Taut harp strings sometimes snap

A good mother, a great journalist, a public figure and an inspiring speaker, but little has been said recently about Jennie Eirian Davies, one of Wales' foremost characters between the 1950s and the early 1980s. A drama-documentary on S4C, Jennie, looks back at the life of a prominent campaigner against the establishment of a dedicated Welsh-language television channel.

Siôn Eirian, Jennie's eldest son:

'She was a fantastic mother and always, in between everything else found time to spend with my brother and I. She couldn't relax, there was no time for laziness.'

But despite her industrious nature, Jennie chose a tragic and unexpected way to end her life. The programme looks back at the life of a talented, ambitious and creative woman and the circumstances that led her to take her own life.

Played by gifted actress, Rhian Morgan, Jennie is a portrayal of one of the most significant members of the Welsh establishment. The programme also features contributions from Branwen Jarvis, Dafydd Elis-Thomas, Gwilym Owen, and Jennie's eldest son, Siôn Eirian, among others.

Programme producer, Arwel Ellis Owen, from Cambrensis Communications, says:

'Jennie had been a heroine of mine since college days. She inspired a generation of journalists with her independent mind and expansive interests through her unique style of writing and presentation of ideas.'

The programme tracks Jennie's 'spiritual journey' from her birth in Llanpumsaint, Carmarthenshire, in 1925. She then went to university in Aberystwyth, and it was here that she met her own 'young bohemian', Eirian Davies, a student preacher who subsequently became her husband and lifelong supporter. The programme follows Jennie's quest for political power. She stood twice as a Plaid Cymru parliamentary candidate in Carmarthen West.

Arwel Ellis Owen:

'The Welsh language print industry was ineffective before Jennie came on the scene, but as soon as she took up the editorship of Y Faner, there was suddenly vive and vitality to the leading Welsh language weekly publication and people wanted to read it'.

One of the main highlights of Jennie's life was her period as editor of Y Faner, a publication that quickly became a vehicle for its radical ideas. Her opposition to the campaign for a Welsh-language only TV channel led to her losing the friendship of many lifelong supporters. Her outspoken opposition to Gwynfor Evans and his campaign for the establishment of S4C, led to her being accused of heresy, according to historian John Davies.

Although Y Faner flourished early on under her editorship, the work load proved too much for Jennie.

According to Lord Dafydd Elis-Thomas:

'Practical politics operated at that time along the M4 corridor, with Jennie and Y Faner far removed from the action, and increasingly isolated from their base in Bala.'

Arwel Ellis Owen said:

'I relish the opportunity to work with the Board of the National Library of Wales to develop a sustainable and long-term strategy for the future of what is undoubtedly one of the nation's greatest treasures.'

Jennie resigned from the editorship of Y Faner, a few days before her untimely death in May 1982.

Branwen Jarvis:

'Jennie lived in a state of high tension.'

'The harp strings were very taught, and sometimes, they snapped.'

Jennie
Tuesday, 26 February, 9.00pm, S4C
Also, Monday, 3 March, 9.30pm, S4C
(English and Welsh subtitles)

Website: s4c.co.uk/ffeithiol
Broadband: s4c.co.uk/watch