Meet Ifan Davies – Easy Rider, fisherman and now TV star – and still only five.
When he’s not flying over jumps at Llandegla Forest on his mountain bike, Ifan is showing his dad and two older brothers how to catch fish.
The five-year-old, who lives in the Ceiriog Valley, is the star of Y Diwrnod Mawr (The Big Day), a series of fascinating stories which are the subject of a ground-breaking documentary series about young children.
The S4C series follows important days in their lives and where the stars are the pre-school children themselves.
The second series, Y Diwrnod Mawr 2, part of the Cyw children’s service on S4C, has already been shortlisted for five top national and international TV awards. Ifan’s Big Day will be screened on July 4.
“The programmes chart the lives of the children as they prepare for an event. We get to know the children as we follow them over a period of time,” said producer Nia Ceidiog of Ceidiog Cyf.
“The series has been shot and edited the same way as we do any other documentary with the story told from each child’s perspective and in their own words.”
Ifan, a pupil at Ysgol Cynddelw in Glyn Ceiriog, is naturally keen to follow in the footsteps of his big brothers Guto, 15, and Morys, 13, and take up the same pastimes. Since they are both keen on fishing and mountain biking, that’s what Ifan wanted.
His father Arwyn, a self-employed cabinet maker in the family business, Theo Davies and Sons, with his two brothers, making furniture, antique replica furniture and orthopaedic equipment, is not an angler, but introduced Ifan to the sport at the local Chirk Fishery.
With a camera crew in tow, Arwyn and his sons spent the day poolside at Chirk. Ifan also went biking in the Coed y Brenin forest, near Dolgellau.
“Ifan watches Cyw and he’s seen episodes of Diwrnod Mawr so he knew what it was about. He was fine in front of the camera, he’s quite a talker.
“Chirk Fishery has children’s ponds where you can hire rods and he loved putting worms on – all the things you want in a children’s programme!
“The fishery is not far from us and it’s ideal because the children’s area has decking and barriers at the children’s pool. The fish always seemed to slip off my hook, but Ifan can reel them in,” said Arwyn.
In the run up to Ifan’s Big Day, fishing he can be seen pursuing his other great hobby, mountain biking, particularly at the Coed Llandegla Forest mountain biking centre where Arwyn and wife Ann, a part-time nurse at the Wrexham Maelor Hospital, try and take the family at least once a week.
“He was riding a bike quite early, he started riding at three and the stabilisers were off at four,” said Arwyn
Sian Eirian, Head of S4C’s Children’s services, said: “This original and innovative new series offers a fascinating insight into the lives of youngsters across Wales.
“It captures a range of magical moments and is a popular part of the Cyw service.
“I would love to hear from parents of pre-school children with stories about their big day so we can include them on Cyw’s website – www.s4c.co.uk/cyw
Ifan’s Big Day will be screened on July 4 and then repeated on July 9 and July 12.
Viewers can also catch Ifan’s story as well as other children’s Big Days on S4C’s Clic service.
