Judith Proctor's Journal

 Last night, I watched 'The Proud Valley' which I'd recorded from Talking Pictures (a very useful channel for old movies).

From the brief plot blurb - black American miner comes to Welsh mine (or words to that effect) - I had hoped that it might involve Paul Robeson, and indeed it did.

It was filmed in 1940 and must have been almost unique at that time in having a black hero as the protagonist.

Paul had a long-standing relationship with the Welsh miners, which was why I thought he might be in the film.

Virtually the first song I every heard of his was 'Land of my Fathers' and I wondered then why an American was singing this song with such incredible feeling.

It was because he meant every word of it.

This article here gives a good overview of his life and his relationship with the Welsh, which began when he met a group of Welsh miners which he was performing in London.

He had the most amazing male voice I've ever heard.

The song he was probably best know for was 'Old Man River'.