Gwynedd man living in Blackpool appalled at ‘unbelievable’ ignorance about Wales

A North Wales man living in England has been left appalled at the “unbelievable” stereotypes about the Welsh he says are still commonplace in his new home. Wayne Sivyer, of Penygroes near Caernarfon, moved to the Lancashire resort of Blackpool in 2017 and claims barely a day goes by without some comically ignorant comment about Cymru.

The 50-year-old former NHS worker has batted off comments about loving sheep; Gavin and Stacey references – even though that’s based in south Wales – and he says one local thought Wales was abroad and that he had to catch a plane when he made visits home.

Fed-up Wayne was so incensed by the apparent ignorance he contacted North Wales Live to report his dismay. He said: “After moving here in 2017 I have heard things that have been what I can only describe as unbelievable. It seems that all some residents of Blackpool know about the Welsh people is that they are ‘sheep lovers’. “

Wayne said he had one eye-opening experience in his first job at a store in the seaside town.

He said: “Most of the staff there were amazing but one young lady, aged 18, was looking to go to university. The first question she asked after finding out I was from Wales was ‘How long does it take to fly there?’, thinking that it was abroad.”

She also asked “Do they really have sex with sheep?” recalled a dumbfounded Wayne.

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Even managers would say “Alright boio” and “What’s occurring?” from the Gavin and Stacey TV series, not knowing that Wales has a multiitude of accents in both languages.

Sadly, things got worse at his next job at a bank. Wayne said: “There was constant bullying, my car was vandalised and I was asked ‘Why move up here to work, have they no jobs on the farm?’

Then during the Covid-19 pandemic, Wayne chose to return to the NHS. He had previously worked as a renal health care worker in Wales for two years and wanted to help in the health service’s hour of need.

He administered Covid jabs at Blackpool’s Winter Gardens among other work and was asked things like “Can you say the long Welsh town name” and Have you climbed Snowdon? (Yr Wyddfa)”.

But he has experienced difficulties with relationships with some colleagues and neighbours during his time in Blackpool. All in all it’s been a surprise to Wayne that so many stereotypes continue.

Are you from North Wales, live away and have faced similar experiences to Wayne? If so tell us about it in the comments section below

In Gwynedd Wayne lost his mum aged 16 and grew up helping to look after his six-year-old brother. He got married and has three children who live in North Wales.

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Now remarried, he is making the most of his life in Lancashire but he says the “anti-Welsh sentiment” can sometimes take its toll.

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