The River Wye is the star of a new television series, 'The River Wye with Will Millard,' which started on Monday, January 8th, on BBC One Wales at 7.30pm. And the programmes not only feature Ross-on-Wye, the series was filmed, produced and directed by former John Kyrle High School pupil, Luke Pavey.

Luke originally planned to study history after completing his A levels at JKHS but at the last minute changed to journalism at Cardiff. After he graduated he started work for BBC Wales as a researcher and assistant producer. He then began freelancing and worked on the observational documentary, The Hill Farmer for BBC Wales, for which he was nominated for a British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) in Wales.

More recently he has worked with friend and colleague, Will Millard on a documentary about the River Taff. Once this was completed they turned their attention to the River Wye. Luke said it was a natural move as he grew up in Ross and had spent time on the river learning to canoe.

The River Wye runs for nearly 140 miles from the wild mountains of mid Wales to the vast Severn Estuary, on the way creating one of the most beautiful valleys in the world.

Luke said that although he knew a lot about the local area, discovering the wilds of Plynlimon in the Cambrian Mountains was a new adventure. In the first programme, which aired on Monday, January 8th but can still be viewed on Catch-up TV, Will met a local farmer, spent a night in a bothy and visited the Elan Dam.

As a writer and angler Will feels most at home by rivers and in this three-part series he explored the whole length of the waterway which was named Britain’s favourite river a few years ago.

Ross-on-Wye makes an appearance, during the third episode, Will was filmed at last year’s Ross Regatta, with a local artist, Anthony Avery and with local cider makers.

Luke explained that as well as the river being a place of beauty it is also connected to industry. During the film making they visited Hopewell Colliery as the River Wye was one of the main arteries for distributing coal from the Forest of Dean. Another discovery for Luke, which he found fascinating to film was the Black Rock fishermen.

He told the Ross Gazette that he is very proud of the series. He said: “I hope we have done justice to the River Wye, and the people who live by it.”

As a cameraman he hopes that he reflects the beauty of the area but as producer he hopes that he has found enough of interest for people who, like him, perhaps know a little about the valley but are keen to discover more.

Luke’s next project is filming three families who spend three weeks living and working as hill farmers in North Wales. He said that this life is not only hard work but the filming will have to take place in all weathers.

He is currently editing a film for BBC Wales about a Port Talbot rugby club which, for the last 50 years, has staged their own pantomime.