The Welsh Gift Shop

Over 40 years a go a group of school children said they witnessed a strange UFO in a field near their school. To this day it is still unexplained.

Here are some facts to get you in the spirit for Halloween!

Credit: BBC News

Where was it?

There were several reported sightings of a strange object in Broad Haven and Little Haven in Pembrokeshire, West Wales. The area became known as 'The Dyfed Triangle' a play on the mysterious Bermuda Triangle.

When was it?

The sightings took place in 1977, with others reported in the same decade.

• 4th February 1977:  14 pupils of Broad Haven Primary School spotted the craft and a creature near their playing field. Their headmaster, Ralph Llewellyn, suspected that they were playing a joke, and so asked the children to draw the craft in exam like conditions. He was surprised how similar the drawings were!
• 17th February 1977: A few teachers and dinner ladies at the school also claimed to have seen the craft, with one saying she saw the creature too.
• 19th April 1977: The owner of the Haven Fort Hotel in near by Little Haven claims to have seen a UFO in a field with two human-like creatures

What Did it Look Like?

• The craft was described as being silver and "cigar-shaped" with a "dome covering the middle third" by 10 year old pupil David Davies
• Rosa Granville, owner of Haven Fort Hotel, described it as an "upside-down saucer." She said it was radiating so much heat that her "face felt burned".
• Ms. Granville also witnessed two "faceless humanoid" creatures with pointed heads who didn't seem to mind the heat: "There was light coming from [the craft] and flames of all colours. Then they came out of these flames, that's what I don't understand." 

Is there an explanation?

There are a number of theories but these incidents still cannot be fully explained.

• In 1996 Glyn Edwards admitted to donning a silver suit and wandering around the area in 1977 as a prank, but can't explain the UFO
• Flt Lt Cowan, an officer from RAF Brawdy, examined the site near Ms. Granville's hotel, but could find no evidence of a landing. He reported that a "local prankster was at work" and noted that the description of aliens "fitted exactly the type of protection suit that would have been issued in the event of a fire at one of the local oil refineries".
• The school children could have confused a sewage tank as a UFO, although many were from farming backgrounds and would have recognised this type of machinery. Additionally no council vehicles were believed to be in the area at the time
• A former US Navy sailor said the silver-suited humanoid was in fact a member of US military personnel wearing their standard fireproof uniform and the UFOs were new Harrier jets flying over.

Credit: BBC News

Calon Lân is a popular Welsh song written in the 1890s by Daniel James (bardic name 'Gwyrosydd'). It was originally a hymn but has become a rugby anthem, being sung before almost every match the Welsh Rugby Union has played.

Welsh Words

Nid wy'n gofyn bywyd moethus,
Aur y byd na'i berlau mân:
Gofyn wyf am galon hapus,
Calon onest, calon lân.

Calon lân yn llawn daioni,

Tecach yw na'r lili dlos:

Dim ond calon lân all ganu

Canu'r dydd a chanu'r nos.

Pe dymunwn olud bydol,
Hedyn buan ganddo sydd;
Golud calon lân, rinweddol,
Yn dwyn bythol elw fydd.

(Chorus)

Hwyr a bore fy nymuniad
Gwyd i'r nef ar adain cân
Ar i Dduw, er mwyn fy Ngheidwad,
Roddi i mi galon lân.

(Chorus) 

English Translation

I don't ask for a luxurious life,
the world's gold or its fine pearls,
I ask for a happy heart,
an honest heart, a pure heart.

A pure heart full of goodness

Is fairer than the pretty lily,

None but a pure heart can sing,

Sing in the day and sing in the night.

If I wished for worldly wealth,
It would swiftly go to seed;
The riches of a virtuous, pure heart
Will bear eternal profit.

(Chorus)

Calon Lân Gifts

You can view our products inspired by this heartfelt hymn here. 

Sheet Music

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To celebrate our new Blodau jugs / vases, here is a pretty list of flower names in Welsh

Blodyn is the Welsh for flower, blodau is the plural (flowers)

• Blodyn neidr - Pink Campion
• Blodyn y gwynt - Wood Anemone
• Blodyn yr haul - Sunflower
• Briallen - Primrose
• Camri - Chamomile
• Ceian - Carnation
• Cennin Pedr - Daffodil
• Clychau'r Gog - Bluebell
• Crinllys - Dog Violet
• Delia - Dahlia
• Eirys - Iris
• Ffion - Foxglove
• Ffriddlys - Anemone
• Ffwsia - Fuchsia
• Fioled - Violet
• Geraniwm - Geranium
• Goldwyr - Marigold
• Gwyddfid - Honeysuckle
• Gwynonwen - Lilly of the Valley
• Lafant - Lavender
• Lili - Lily
• Lili Wen Fach - Snowdrop
• Llygad y dydd - Daisy
• Meillion - Clover
• Menyn - Buttercup
• Pabi Cymreig - Welsh Poppy
• Pansi - Pansy
• Rhosyn - Rose