The writer who first brought Fireman Sam to life is proud he’s still on patrol – and coming to her home town to help keep children safe.
The popular children’s TV character is delighting new generations of children almost 30 years after Nia Ceidiog, who comes from Coedpoeth, near Wrexham, first penned the stories about him.
Nia, who went on to become an award-winning independent television producer and director, is delighted that Sam – Sam Tân in Welsh – is making a guest appearance at the Eagles Meadow shopping centre.
The legendary firefighter from Pontypandy will star in a special fire safety day at the shopping centre on Tuesday, October 29.
During the day he will add his own considerable expertise to that of North Wales Fire and Rescue Service to help alert young centre visitors to the need to stay out of harm’s way on Bonfire Night the following week.
Sam is the central character of an animated children’s TV series about the firefighting team and other townspeople in a fictional rural town in the South Wales valleys.
The original idea for the show came from two ex-firemen from Kent, Dave Gingell and Dave Jones, who took it to Mike Young from Barry in South Wales who had already created the animated children’s character of Superted.
It then went to S4C’s director of animation, Chris Grace, who saw its potential and authorised a series. Chris had previously commissioned Superted which enjoyed great success in the UK and internationally.
The show’s characters and storylines were created by Cardiff-based illustrator Rob Lee and the programme was put together using a method of puppet animation which took four days to produce just one minute of action.
The job of bringing Sam, voiced by actor John Alderton, and his friends vividly to life went to young writer Nia Ceidiog who had a script ready for the show to air for the first time, in Welsh, in 1985.
Nia recalled: “I’m very proud of the fact that I wrote all the scripts for Fireman Sam from then until the original series finished in 1994.
“Welsh and English versions of the show were produced back to back for S4C and the BBC respectively.
“The two former firemen had originally created the character of Sam to help them in their fundraising and it sort of grew from there when they met Mike Young and Rob Lee.
“It was huge fun to write but it was originally produced in a very different era, without the technology which is available today.
“For a start I wrote all the scripts in longhand and then got someone to type them up.
“When the scripts were finished they were then sent in the post to the producers, although by the time the last one was done we did have fax machines and I was able to send the scripts that way!”
Nia added: “It was a very happy time for me. Sam was basically aimed at six year olds, and it was quite easy for me to target the scripts to this because at the time my son Dafydd, who is now 32, was six himself.
“In those days you couldn’t really have fires written into the show as it was thought this might upset the children watching, so I had to put Sam into other situations firefighters find themselves in.
“That’s why we had him dealing with lots of cats stuck up trees and people with their heads through in railings.
“The shows we made back then are still being shown in various countries across the world and are particularly popular in Belgium and the Netherlands.
“There has since been a new Fireman Sam TV series and there are also games, videos and other activities.
“I think it’s fantastic that Sam is also still doing his rounds in person and that he’ll be at Eagles Meadow in Wrexham to spread the word about fire safety in advance of Bonfire Night.”
These days Nia heads up the Cardiff-based Ceidiog TV, which specialises in the production of children’s programmes and has won an armful of industry accolades recognising its prowess in the field.
Nia said: “We like to say we’re a little company that punches above its weight and we have won lots of awards and nominations for our work.”
At Eagles Meadow on October 29, Fireman Sam will on hand to meet young fans from 11am-3.30pm.
Alongside him will be his counterparts from North Wales Fire & Rescue Service who will bring along an operational fire appliance for youngsters to have a close-up look at.
The firefighters from the Wrexham station will also run a special firework and bonfire safety quiz and all those taking part will receive a special prize.
There will also be an opportunity for youngsters to try on a real fire kit and their picture taken, as well as meeting local firefighters.
Chris Nott, Community Safety Manager for Wrexham and Flintshire, said: “We’re thrilled to be working alongside Fireman Sam at Eagles Meadow to help spread to word on fire safety.
“Every year, countless people are badly injured and burnt in the run up to the bonfire season when lighting bonfires and setting off fireworks.
“We’d encourage everyone to celebrate November 5th by attending an organised display – they definitely provide the best value for money for entertainment and also ensure that families no longer need to risk the dangers of back garden bonfire and fireworks parties.”
