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Cymru Rhydd- Free Wales . That is what we could hear being chanted by the crowd marching in front of us . The Welsh national anthem was being sung with gusto. The words of Calon Lan - a welsh hymn about a clean and pure heart rang out . What do we want ? Independence came the reply. The flags flutter in the breeze . We join the march on Queens Square which is set up with stalls selling welsh produce and welsh beer . A large TV screen is set up and the march has already started . We read that it would assemble at 12 and set off up Duke Street at 12.30 . This would give us time for a coffee, a bacon sandwich and a sausage roll.
We latched on the middle of the march . Is that the newsreader Huw Edwards over there talking to the crowd? You know what it is like when you think you see someone you know . You question yourself . Surely it cannot be Huw . But then he is proudly welsh despite living in London . We looked at him a few times , double taking the scene
and pronouncing yes it was indeed Huw .
We left him talking and joined the group under the archway which led to Regent Street . The language used was predominently Welsh . The flags were welsh dragons , the flag of Owain Glyndwr together with Yes Cymru and the Breton flags . We even saw Scottish saltaires . As we walked slowly down to Hope Street the march stopped and started . The Welsh national anthem was sung and then we moved on . The march would be one mile around the town and was heavily policed . We spoke to a number of marchers who had travelled from Morfa Nefyn. They felt not many from Wrexham were joining the march . Wrexham being so close to the English border had always been a struggler . Feeling Welsh but not welsh speaking . Overpowered by its neighbour Cheshire in particular . They thanked us for marching and shouted to people sitting and watching to join in .
Down Yorke Street . We stopped again at the bottom of the street and sang again before moving along the narrow Tuttle Street . I found myself talking about the old
Brewery we were passing and the site of the old swimming baths . It was a walk of rememberence in a way . Camera clicking I found myself taking pictures of the flags and listening to the conversations .
We walked slowly along St Giles Way . There were still rumblings of few Wrexham walkers . We felt the march was well attended in what was basically a more English part of Wales . Up Town Hill and back down the High Street . Drinkers in the pubs shouted out and waved . Children had small flags which they waved with enthusiasm . Tom Jones' Delilah blared out of one of the pubs as we passed . The end was approaching and we walked up Chester Street , Lambpit Street and back to where we had started .
I tapped my other half " Look over there " Standing just behind us was Dafydd Iwan the welsh folk legend who penned the anthem Yma o Hyd in the 1980's. It had been played but was not as famous as it is today. Sung by the Red Wall of the Welsh Football Association and the team when they play
competitions . Played at the Racecourse before every Wrexham game . It has taken on a new life when it topped the ITunes charts a few weeks back . I chased down the legend and asked in Welsh if I could have a photograph . He obliged smiling .
We left him and headed behind the Guildhall . Much had been made that this was a political march . The council had sought to stop it but in the end agreed to the group being able to set up a stage and hold the rally. The field was full of waving flags and families enjoying their day out . Speaker followed speaker . A young welsh female football player , the archdruid of the Gorsedd of the Bards , a welsh lecturer and lawyer . All advocating breaking from Westminster who treat Wales as second class citizens .
The flags were still fluttering when we left . The children were running round enjoying themselves , the adults talking to each other . It was a different day and an enjoyable one . Life down here back in the town of my birth is proving very interesting to say the least . Yma o hyd .
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Home and Away
Bob Carlsen
We are celebrating Independence Day...
on the 4th of July...from England. Did Wales pick this weekend to hold the Independence March to coincide with our day?