- published: 18 Oct 2012
- views: 1790
Coordinates: 53°08′N 4°16′W / 53.14°N 4.27°W / 53.14; -4.27
Caernarfon (/kərˈnɑrvən/; Welsh: [kaɨrˈnarvɔn]) is a Royal town, community and port in Gwynedd, Wales, with a population of 9,611. It lies along the A487 road, on the east banks of the Menai Straits, opposite the Isle of Anglesey. The city of Bangor is 8.6 miles (13.8 km) to the northeast, while Snowdonia fringes Caernarfon to the east and southeast. Caernarvon and Carnarvon are archaic anglicised spellings of Caernarfon, but used rarely.
Abundant natural resources in and around the Menai Straits enabled human habitation in the Caernarfon area during pre-history. The Ordovices were the Celtic tribe documented as living in this region during classical antiquity. The Roman fort called Segontium was established in about the year 80 to subjugate the Ordovices as part of the Roman conquest of Britain. The Romans were victorious and occupied the region until their departure in the 5th century, after which Caernarfon became part of the Kingdom of Gwynedd. In the 11th century, William I, King of England ordered the construction of a motte-and-bailey at Caernarfon, so as to fulfill the Norman invasion of Wales.
The Dancing Man is the name given to the man who was filmed dancing on the street in Sydney, Australia, after the end of World War II. On 15 August 1945, a reporter took note of a man's joyful expression and dance and asked him to do it again. The man consented and was caught on motion picture film in an Australian edition of the newsreel Movietone News. The film and stills from it have taken on iconic status in Australian history and culture, and symbolise victory in the war.
There has been much debate as to the identity of the dancing man. The identity commonly accepted, though, is that he is Frank McAlary, a retired barrister who claims that he was the man photographed pirouetting in Elizabeth Street, Sydney, on 15 August 1945. A Queen's Counsel, Chester Porter, and a former Compensation Court judge, Barry Egan, both claim to have seen Mr. McAlary being filmed dancing.
The television programme Where Are They Now, produced by Australia's Seven Network, attempted to solve the mystery of the dancing man's identity. The network hired a forensic scientist who examined the film reel and picture and came to the conclusion that it was indeed McAlary.