Examples of my tourism work for Carmarthenshire County Council. Alan Evans, Freelance Professional Photographer based in St Clears.

1. Dylan Thomas 23/12/2010 18:26
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Dylan The Edge of Love
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Walesʼs most famous literary figure
This gripping film tells the story of
Dylan Thomas referred to
Dylan Thomas through the eyes of
Carmarthenshire as the 'fields of
the two women he loves. Broken
praise' which so filled him with
promises, passion, betrayal under
inspiration. His family roots were
the shadow of war and threat of
here and it is Carmarthenshire
Gower & Carmarthen Bay » which stirred him to write some of
imminent death push the
his greatest works including Under Milk Wood and Fern Hill. protagonist to the Edge of Love.
Many of the locations are in
Dylan lived and worked at his Boathouse with its clifftop writing shed and Carmarthenshire, which was
spectacular views in the sleepy seaside town of Laugharne on the sandy Dylanʼs home and source of
fringes of Carmarthen Bay. inspiration in the 1940s when the
The town is enjoying a resurgence of interest brought on by the success of film is set.
Tourism Links : the film The Edge of Love which tells the story of Dylan through the eyes of
The all-star cast includes Matthew
the two women he loves. Many of the scenes starring Keira Knightley and
Carmarthenshire County Council Rhys as Dylan. The leading ladies
Sienna Miller with Matthew Rhys as Dylan, are set in the stunning
Sienna Miller and Keira Knightley
Carmarthenshire Tourist Carmarthenshire countryside around Laugharne, which many say has
portray the talented poetʼs wife and
Association changed little since the great man lived there in the late 1940s and early
lover respectively. The film is
50s.
Inspirational Wales directed by the award-winning John
Itʼs not difficult to get a sense of what inspired Dylan. Laugharne has a Maybury.
One Big Garden
placid, timeless charm - helped along by sand, sea and even a castle. The
South West Wales Tourism Boathouse where the poet lived for the last four years of his life is now a
Partnership heritage centre containing audio visual presentations, original furnishings
Dylan Thomas Links...
and memorabilia, a themed bookshop, tea room, viewing platform and
Visit Wales inspirationalwales.com
terrace.
Visit Swansea Bay
dylanthomasboathouse.com
The man
Visit Pembrokeshire
One of Walesʼs greatest writers, dylanthomas.com
Ceredigion Tourism Dylan Thomas (1914-53) has
become an iconic figure for aspiring books.google.co.uk
poets and anyone who loves
literature. swansea.gov.uk
Born in Swansea but with his family dylanthomaswales.org.uk
roots firmly in Carmarthenshire,
Dylan drew his inspiration from the beautiful Carmarthenshire countryside, neuroticpoets.com
most notably Laugharne where he spent the last years of his life. Dylanʼs
passionate and turbulent marriage to Caitlin produced three children, dylanthomasfringe.com
Aeronwy, Llewelyn and Colm. The family lived together at the Boathouse in
Laugharne during the last four years of Dylanʼs life. popsubculture.com
The writer inspirationalwales.com
The main themes of Dylanʼs poetry
visitswanseabay.com
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2. Dylan Thomas 23/12/2010 18:26
visitswanseabay.com
are nostalgia, life, death, and
himself as a boy or as a young 5cwmdonkindrive.com
man. Also Wales, its people and
landscapes have an undeniable bigeye.com
influence on all his work. Dylan
spent many happy holidays on town.hall.org
Fernhill Farm in Llangain with his Uncle Jack and Aunt Annie, which he
immortalised in his eponymous poem.
Dylan Thomas Boathouse
The seaside village of Llansteffan was another childhood favourite of Dylanʼs Dylan's Walk, Laugharne SA33 4SD.
and the setting for his short story, 'The Outing'. Carmarthenshire inspired Tel : 01994 427420.
him to write some of his greatest works but many were also penned while dylanthomasboathouse.com
away from Wales, in London and America.
The place
Dylan first visited Laugharne in
1934 and although he described it
as 'the strangest town in Wales', it
was to become more commonly
associated with the poet than his
birthplace Swansea.
In the 19 30s Laugharne was
unusual in that it was an isolated
English-speaking town set in
Welsh-speaking countryside and
was known affectionately for the
eccentricity of its inhabitants.
Laugharne held great emotional
significance for Dylan. It was here his relationship with Caitlin was to
flourish and where the couple set up their first home. The pair are believed
to have caused quite a stir. According to Dylan Thomasʼs biographer Paul
Ferris: "Neighbours peeked through the curtains to catch glimpses of young
Mrs Thomas in a flowing purple housecoat, or watch her husband, who was
thought to be a writer of some kind, trotting down the hill to fetch water from
the public tap, dressed in pyjamas and an overcoat".
The family left Laugharne shortly after the birth of their son Llewelyn in
1940 but returned to the 'timeless, mild, beguiling island of a town' nine
years later when one of Dylanʼs benefactors bought the Boathouse for them
for £3,000. It was perfect and Dylan penned some of his greatest work here
- including Under Milk Wood. At the time they moved in Caitlin was
expecting their third child Colm.
Laugharne was to become Dylanʼs final resting place. After his death in
New York the poetʼs body was returned to Britain and buried in the grounds
of St Martin's Church in Laugharne. Caitlin was also buried in the same plot
following her death in 1994.
The Boathouse is now a popular tourist attraction. It underwent a
refurbishment in 2003 to coincide with the 50th anniversary of Dylanʼs death
and has been restored to the state it was in when the Thomases lived
there.
Laugharne Castle was once owned by the writer Richard Hughes. Dylan
often stayed with Hughes and used the gazebo in the grounds when writing.
The castle is now in the care of CADW, the Welsh Historic Monuments, and
is perfect for a visit. Look out for Dylanʼs favourite pub Brownʼs Hotel on the
main street in Laugharne.
(Attractions Map »)
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