Powys County Council Civic Service

The latest in the civic service circuit was for the Chair of Powys County Council, Councillor David Meredith and took place at St David's Church situated in a western suburb of Brecon, just outside the town centre.

The church itself is a mixture of Victorian and earlier twentieth century build and retains virtually nothing of its pre-nineteenth century predecessor, the only medieval being a font. The current building dates entirely to 1859 and 1923-25.

The standout performance during the service was by a young vocalist called Lowri Bufton, whose delivery of Ave Maria was outstanding.

I am sure there are still many more civic services left for the various members of the 'chain gang' to attend. 

Civic engagements week ending 5 August 2018

Dunvant Male Choir 39th Annual Patrons Concert

Another exceptional concert tonight as we attended St. Mary's Church in the centre of Swansea to hear Dunvant Male Choir give their 39th Annual Patrons Concert.

Dunvant Male Choir have the unique achievement of having provided over 123 years of continuous choral music since 1895. They are still going strong today with tonight's audience of between 400 and 500 patrons being introduced to their youngest member aged 20, and their oldest aged 92.

They were supported by 18 year old Callum Howells from Treorchy and the outstanding Elin Manahan Thomas, who recently performed at the Royal Wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.

Between them they treated us to a diverse range of music including Gilbert and Sullivan, Handel, Schubert, Rodgers and Hammerstein, Songs from the First World War, Mr Bojangles, The Lord's Prayer by A.H. Malotte, Bizet's Divine Brahma and Juliet's Aria by Charles Gounod.

I think that those who attended will be talking about these performances for some time to come.

Three Cliffs Dementia Nursing Home Summer Fete

Given the sudden change in the weather, the term 'summer fete' may have been an exaggeration, but that did not stop relatives, occupants, staff and other attendees from enjoying themselves.

Three Cliffs Care Home is a situated in a commanding position on Cefn Bryn in Gower and has spectacular views of Three Cliffs Bay, voted the best and most loved view in Wales. It is a former workhouse and has also served as a hotel, but nowadays it houses and cares for nearly 50 residents suffering from advanced dementia.

Amongst the entertainment was the Swansea City Pipe Band, pictured above and the Zahira Exotic Belly Dancers. There was also entertainment from the Bus Pass Cowboys & TWs and Robbie Lee.

As ever with summer fetes there was hot food, a Bric a Brac stall, raffle, and tombola. It was a great event if only the weather had been better.

Afternoon tea with Siloam Chapel

Every year through January and March the local churches open their doors to the street homeless, providing a night shelter where they can get some food, socialise and have a warm place to sleep.

The night shelter rotates around the many churches and chapels in the area, and volunteers work closely with the council and other statutory services so that wherever possible those who are able to benefit from this scheme are also introduced to other support services and hopefully can eventually be rehoused.

Where I live in Manselton, Christwell Church has participated in this venture for a number of years and I have tried to make a point of popping in to talk to those involved at least once during the period it is in operation.

It was a privilege therefore to go up to the Mansion House this afternoon to support Siloam Chapel in raising money to help finance this night shelter. As can be seen from the photograph there was a very generous spread of sandwiches and cakes for the sixty plus attendees and there was a tomobola and a raffle.

It was a lovely few hours with good company for a very worthy cause.

Swansea University Honorary Fellowship Dinner

There are some who will tell you that being Lord Mayor or Deputy Lord Mayor involves lots of formal dinners and drink receptions. However, last night was the first one I attended and there do not appear to be many more on the horizon at present for either of us.

In fact, I have attended more choral performances and church services that dinners and continue to be amazed at the wealth of talent in the City.

The Swansea University Honorary Fellowship Dinner is an annual event, staged to honour those who have been recognised by the University for their contribution to society and public life. It was held last night on the three year old Bay Campus just outside the Swansea Council boundary, though the dinner itself was served in a marquee.

The eleven recipients of honorary degrees from Swansea University this year are all exceptional people. All of them have a connection with Swansea or South Wales. They are:

• Mr Eric Jones, a Pontarddulais-born composer renowned for his choral compositions;
• Mr Huw Tregalles Williams OBE, Swansea-born former head of music at BBC Wales and the first Director of the BBC National Orchestra of Wales;
• Mr Ian Jones, Morriston-born television executive who was a member of the team who first launched S4C in 1982;
• Mr Howard Morgan, a former Lord Mayor of Swansea who has been associated with Swansea University for over 40 years and who is a trustee of the Swansea University Student Union;
• Professor Donna M Mead OBE, a former High Sheriff of West Glamorgan, who wrote the first undergraduate degree in nursing at Swansea University;
• Ms Eleanor Simmonds MBE, a five times Paralympic Champion whose training base was at the Wales National Pool at Swansea University's International Sports Village;
• Professor Bernard Knight CBE, a leading Welsh pathologist who held the chair of Forensic Pathology in Cardiff until he retired in 1996, and author of about thirty books, including contemporary crime fiction, historical novels about Wales, biography, non-fiction popular works on forensic medicine, twelve medico-legal textbooks and the Crowner John Mysteries series of 12th-century historical mysteries featuring one of the earliest (fictional) coroners in England;
• Mrs Gaynor Richards MBE, Director of Neath Port Talbot Council for Voluntary Service and Chair of Governors of Neath Port Talbot College Group;
• Honourable Shekhar Dutt, a Swansea University graduate who rose to become Defence Secretary for the Government of India and Governor of Chattisgarh province;
• Ms La-Chun Lindsay, the first female managing director of GE Aviation Wales, the largest industrial company in South Wales;
• Professor Ben Shneiderman, the founding director of the Human Computer Interaction Laboratory at the University of Maryland, who has been visiting and encouraging computer scientists at Swansea University ahead of the opening of the £31m Computational Foundry on the Bay Campus.

All in all it was a very enjoyable evening and an honour to be dining alongside such distinguished people. 

Swansea University Degree and Award Congregation

I can still recall my own Swansea University graduation ceremony in 1981. It was in the Brangwyn Hall, which was packed out wiith eager graduates and their parents.

Because these things are done alphabetically, I was in one of the early tranches to ascend the stairs onto the stage, to be greeted by the Principal. The instructions as we entered the stage were clear: walk up to the Principal, shake his hand but don't forget to let go. I suppose the poor man had so many hands to shake he must have been on automatic pilot.

Today's ceremony was much less manic. The level of organisation was impressive, made easier by the fact that the week-long event is now carried out in bite-sized chunks. It is astonishing how they manage to get 200 plus graduates to enter the stage in the same order as the academic reading out the names.

This time I was on the stage, alongside the Deputy Mayor of Neath Port Talbot and a dozen academics dressed in robes of many colours according to their qualification and alma mater. I was wearing the Deputy Lord Mayor robes and chain. Fortunately, the Great Hall in the Bay Campus is air-conditioned.

It is traditional for the Lord Mayor or his Deputy to attend as many of the degree ceremonies for Swansea University and the University of Wales Trinity St David as they are able to as schedules allow.

In all I sat through two ceremonies, complete with poems, prose and song. It was certainly a different sort of event to the one I attended 37 years ago. And each and every one of those graduates, their relatives and friends will be able to look back on this day as an important staging post in their life as they move onto bigger and better things.

Civic engagements week ending 29 July 2018

Eid Milan Party

Today I was in my own ward, in Manselton Community Centre, addressing an Eid celebration on the subject of love and peace.

The main speaker was Mr Nisar Orchard, who spoke to a group of more than 50 people about the main tenets of the Muslim faith and responded to questions. The meeting was also addressed by Geraint Davies MP and by the local community police officer.

Afterwards, there was a very tasty curry lunch confirming once more the very generous hospitality that the Muslim community is famed for. As can be seen from the photographs there also a substantial police presence.They had attended as part of their communiy relations role.

Croquet on the Mansion House lawn

One of the best things about the Mayoralty is the opportunity to raise money for designated charities. The current Lord Mayor has chosen four charities to support during his year. They are Maggies, which is based on the Singleton Hospital site and provides free practical, emotional and social support to people with cancer and their family and friends, West Glamorgan Youth Theatre, the YMCA Young Carers Service, which provides support and information for young carers aged 8-18 in Swansea, and the Swansea East Side Food Bank.

Money is raised for these charities in various ways, including a Lord Mayor's Ball and next months Strawberry Tea at the Mansion House. One tradition has been the annual croquet tournament, which from 2008 to 2016 was hosted by chartered and independent financial advisors, Estate Capital, at their Uplands office. However, when they moved office they no longer had a lawn to stage the competition on and so there was no competition last year.

At my suggestion, this year Estate Capital moved the croquet tournament to the Mansion House lawn. A long list of local, mostly financial and legal businesses turned up to take part. These included Barclays Bank, Swansea Building Society, Crossing Point, Butterfield Morgan, Estate Capital, Allchurch and Co, Broomfields, JCP, Hutchinson Thomas, PWC and Willis Jones.

Estate Capital very generously provided a substantial buffet and drinks and somehow the rain held off until just after 4.45pm. One of the semi-finals and the final were played in the rain but despite that everybody had a really good time and by the end of the day it is likely that just under £1800 was raised for the Lord Mayor's charities.

My role was presenting the trophy to the eventual winner, Barclays Bank. I very much look forward to hosting a similar event next year.

Update: The final tally reveals that the money raised on the day for the Lord Mayor's charities was £1,055. This is to be match-funded by Barclays Bank, making a total donation of £2,110.

Swansea University Egypt Centre

It was a privilege today to play a supporting role to the Lord Lieutenant as he presented the Queen's Award for Voluntary Service to the Egypt Centre based on the Swansea University campus.

As the website says the present museum is based upon a selection of items brought together by the pharmacist Sir Henry Wellcome. When he died in 1936, his collection was cared for by trustees, who were eventually based in London. I was told today that there were about three million items in this collection and they are still being sorted out.

Much of the collection was dispersed to various museums in Britain, but by the early 1970s some of it remained in the basement of the Petrie Museum. Gwyn Griffiths, lecturer in the Classic Department of University College Swansea and David Dixon, lecturer in Egyptology at University College London, between them arranged for a selection of the artefacts to come to Swansea.

The collection formally opened to the public in March 1976 for two afternoons in each week of term (Thursdays and Fridays 2.30-4.30). Some artefacts were also displayed at the Royal Institution (now Swansea Museum). In 1978 the collection was added to by items from the British Museum and in 1981 by the gift of a 21st Dynasty coffin from Exeter. Further items were given by individuals.

When I was at Swansea University between 1978 and 1981 this collection was based in what was then called North Arts (the Keir Hardie building today). Today it is in purpose-built accommodation attached to the Taliesin Building and is run with the help of over 120 volunteers, many of whom are still at school, the oldest of whom is 92 and has been volunteering there for 17 years. The centre holds the largest collection of ancient Egyptian artefacts in Wales, with more than 5,000 objects.

It was that use of volunteers that the Lord Lieutenant was there to honour. The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service is the highest award given to volunteer groups across the UK. Winners get a certificate signed by the Queen and a domed glass crystal. Representatives from the group may also be invited to attend a royal garden party.

The centre was hailed for 'providing learning opportunities and engaging with the wider community.' The award is testament to the impact the volunteers have had.

Afterwards we had a tour of the centre, guided by two of the knowledgeable volunteers, which enabled me to add to the knowledge of ancient Egypt I have picked up from watching Stargate SG1. It was a very enjoyable afternoon.

Neath Port Talbot Civic Service

This was my second civic service, the annual perambulation of the 'chain gang' around each other's parishes to celebrate the host's year as civic head, and as usual it was an occasion to savour.

The other two civic services that have taken place in South Wales so far, in addition to the one I attended in Carmarthenshire last month, have been in Caerphilly and Monmouthshire. The Lord Mayor represented Swansea at those two events.

The Neath Port Talbot service took place at St Theodore's Church in Port Talbot and was followed by a high tea at Margam Orangery. It was hosted by Mayor, Councillor Dennis Keogh and his Mayoress, Mrs Christine Keogh.

The highlights were undoubtedly the two choirs, Kenfig Hill and District Male Voice Choir and their youth choir, Crescendo. Their contribution was original and brilliantly executed, making an impression on the whole congregation.

There may well be many more chain gang reunions before the year is out.

Civic engagements week ending 22 July 2018

Swansea Bay Singleton Singers 10th Annual concert

Tonight was another one of the many concerts that the Lord Mayor and his Deputy are invited to and as usual, it was entertaining, enjoyable and performed to a very high standard.

The Swansea Bay Singleton Singers were formed in 1985 and in its early days consisted of female employees of the City's Singleton Hospital. Membership is now open to everyone and the group currently have 52 choristers on their books.

The choir continues to make annual donations to Singleton Hospital and over the years has donated in excess of £26,000. In 2017, the choir raised £500 for ward 7 and the money was used to buy televisions and DVD players. Earlier this year another £500 was given to help pay towards improving patients' experience within the outpatient's department and to purchase bladder scanners.

The concert also featured Ryan Alexander, a musical theatre soloist from Canada, who has recently completed his Masters in Musical Theatre Performance at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, and a 15-year-old violin soloist from Pontarddulais, Will Mullins.

It was a very entertaining evening featuring a wide choice of music and styles to a sell-out audience, all of whom appreciated the musical tour de force they were treated to. Definitely worth attending the eleventh annual concert next year.

Swansea Special Festival

This morning I was whisked off to Swansea University Sports Village where I spent an hour and a half giving out medals to disabled young athletes, some of whom had come from as far as Anglesey, to compete in Swansea's 38th Special Festival.

As this web page explains, this festival is designed for those with a learning, physical or intellectual disability. The event is designed to be inclusive. Races are categorised into ability levels, meaning everyone has a fair chance of winning a medal. Entries are accepted from both adults and children, and the council take great pride in ensuring there is a relaxed and friendly atmosphere at all events and activities.

There are also plenty of opportunities to socialise both on and off the running track, with a variety of entertainment in the evenings of 9, 10 and 11 July, including 10-pin bowling, a live music act and a karaoke evening.

The Lord Mayor had presented medals in the swimming events yesterday. Today it was my turn to do so for track and field events. It really was a privilege to have even this small involvement in this festival and I have huge respect for the many volunteers and council staff who made it possible.

Pentrehafod School Charity evening

Having helped to judge presentations from year nine pupils on their charity fundraising at Gowerton School in May, today it was the turn of Pentrehafod School to do their bit under the auspices of First Give UK.

First Give UK is a charity set up to help young people give their time and talent to improve their community. One of their activities is to go into local schools, and set young people the task of finding out about, working with and raising money for charities.

Just over four months later the various groups make a presentation to a judging panel on their work. The best group will then receive an additional £1,000 for their charity. As Deputy Lord Mayor, I was on today's judging panel alongside the Head and Deputy Head teachers, the Head boy and girl and an education advisor from Erw.

The six groups made presentations on the behalf of Mind Cymru, a domestic abuse charity, Cancer Research UK (twice), Addiction Recovery Agency, and Gofal Cymru.

Once more it was a really difficult decision with a high standard of presentation by six groups of very committed and emotionally involved youngsters. On balance though we decided that the additional £1,000 should go to Gofal Cymru. It could though have gone to any of them.

Civic Engagements week ending 15 July 2018

Civic Engagements week ending 8 July 2018