The three directors of the Vaults — Andy White, James Hammond, and Tony Edwards — all met at Eirias High School, Colwyn Bay. Life carried them into very different fields, but their friendship endured. Andy trained in civil engineering and naval architecture and lectures in marine engineering. James grew up working at the Great Orme copper mines, run by his family, and built his own career working as an audio visual technician in London for fifteen years, before returning to North Wales. Tony became a local businessman and co-owner of Johnny Throws, an innovative axe-throwing and digital darts venue on Llandudno’s high street.

The spark came when Andy and James began to imagine Y Fach not just as an empty reservoir but as a storytelling arena. Over many evenings with Tony, they shared the idea of reopening the space to tell Welsh myths and legends with the help of artists and AV specialists. Tony — who admitted he’d never even heard of the Afanc or the Water Leaper — realised there must be countless others in the same position. Why should these incredible stories remain in the shadows? Like Y Fach itself, they deserved to be rediscovered.