The Ladies of Blaenwern recounts the way in which the University of Wales sold off an internationally renowned cob stud which had been bequeathed to them in the 1980s.

It is also the story of three ladies who formed a musical partnership called The Dorian Trio in the early twentieth century. Generations of children who were brought up in Wales in the 1930s, 40s and 50s knew of the Trio who travelled around schools performing and educating. They worked at University College of North Wales for ten years and later at Aberystwyth, travelling around south Wales giving concerts. However, by World War II they had turned their attention to farming in Llanarth, Ceredigion where they kept Welsh indigenous breeds. Their main interest was Welsh cobs. The Llanarth stud became world famous; their knowledge of genetics added impetus to the quality and standard of their stock. They were winners at international events. The three ladies were single-minded achievers. In the 1980s, they bequeathed the enterprise to University College of Wales, Aberystwyth for safekeeping.

As Teleri Bevan notes, “But unfortunately, old age brought a tragic ending to the story, with the dismantling of the farm and stud by the university who had been gifted the estate and farming enterprise. Many will remember the acute anger and disappointment at the final sale, the dispersal of the Llanarth stud and the press headlines and television programmes. Pauline and Enid died of broken hearts.”

Teleri Bevan was raised on a farm in Ceredigion. She spent most of her working life at BBC Wales as a radio producer, becoming the first Editor of Radio Wales when it was launched in 1978. Subsequently, she became its Head of Programmes. Now retired, she enjoys writing and this is her fourth book.

The Ladies of Blaenwern is published by Y Lolfa, priced at £8.95 and will be launched at the International Pavilion at the Winter Fair in Builth Wells on Monday 29 November.


Stori drist fferm cobiau Blaenwern, Ceredigion


Mae’r llyfr The Ladies of Blaenwern yn adrodd yr hanes fel y bu i Goleg Prifysgol Cymru werthu fferm magu cobiau o enwogrwydd rhyngwladol a ewyllyswyd iddynt, nôl yn yr 1980au.

Yn ogystal, mae’n sôn am stori tair gwraig a luniodd bartneriaeth gerddorol The Dorian Trio yn negawdau cynnar yr ugeinfed ganrif. Teithiai’r Dorian Trio o gylch ysgolion Cymru benbaladr, yn diddanu ac addysgu plant. Bu’r Trio hefyd yn gweithio yn adrannau cerddoriaeth colegau y brifysgol ym Mangor ac Aberystwyth yn ddiweddarach, ac yn cynnal cyngherddau yng nghymoedd y de. Ond erbyn adeg yr Ail Ryfel Byd roedd y gwragedd wedi troi eu sylw at ffermio yn Llanarth, Ceredigion ac yno roeddynt yn cadw bridiau brodorol. Eu diddordeb pennaf oedd magu cobiau Cymreig.

Daeth y fferm yn fyd-enwog; roedd eu gwybodaeth am eneteg yn rhoi symbyliad uwch i ansawdd a safon eu stoc. Roeddynt yn enillwyr mewn cystadlaethau rhyngwladol. Roedd y tair yn gyflawnwyr unplyg. Yn y 1980au, ewyllyswyd y fferm i Goleg Prifysgol Cymru, Aberystwyth er mwyn ei diogelu i’r dyfodol.

Fel y dywed yr awdur, “Yn anffodus, wrth i’r gwragedd heneiddio, daeth diwedd trychinebus i’r stori, gyda’r fferm magu cobiau yn cael ei gwahanu’n ddarnau a’i gwerthu. Bydd sawl un yn cofio’r dicter a’r siom yn ystod yr arwerthiant olaf, y penawdau papur newydd a’r rhaglenni teledu. Bu Pauline ac Enid farw o dorcalon.”