Lord Mayor's Column - 17th July 2019

As part of the commemoration events for Swansea's 50th anniversary we are inviting community groups up to the Mansion House to celebrate with us. The ambition is to have 50 such events, with groups from every ward in the City.

On Monday I invited the Bonymaen Senior Citizens group up to the Mansion House for afternoon tea and on Tuesday it was the turn of the Friends of Birchgrove Pavilion. Both groups were accompanied by their ward councillors and were a lively and fun couple of hours. I hope everyone who joined us enjoyed.

Later, I celebrated the honorary fellows of the University of Wales Trinity St. David at a dinner in the Dylan Thomas Centre. Both universities reward individuals in this way every year. They are prestigious occasions, and an opportunity to thank people for their work and their commitment to their communities.

Recipients included Judge Ray Singh CBE for services to public services and equality, the Most Reverend John Davies, Archbishop of Wales for services to the Church in Wales, and Chief Constable Matthew Jukes for services to policing and public services. Also honoured were Coastal Housing Chief Executive, Debbie Green and Cllr Robert Francis Davies for services to community regeneration.

If you go down to the National Waterfront Museum on Thursday Morning you’re sure for a big surprise! I’ll be joining families at the 10th annual teddy bears picnic. The free event will have fun and activities from Flying Start teams right across Swansea.

Then on Saturday it’s back to the National Waterfront Museum, where I will be opening ‘The Changing Face of Mining’ art exhibition. Artist Tina Francis has captured intimate portraits of miners at the opencast mine East Pit at Tairgwaith, one of the last working coal mines in an industry that was once the backbone of the Welsh economy.