Cor Meibion Pontarddulais Annual Concert

The annual concert of the Pontarddulais Male Choir was a spectacular affair featuring a full orchestra, a massive number of choir members and a trio of outstanding female singers.

The choir were accompanied by the Athena Trio, made up of classical singers Gwawr Edwards, Sioned Terry and Ellen Williams and British Sinfonietta, who are one of the UK's leading independent professional orchestras.

One of the highlights of the evening was Huw Tregelles Williams, organ piece alongside British Sinfonietta playing Jazz Concerto for Organ and Orchestra 4th Movement "Hot Pipes" (Ragging for Pipes).

The Brangwyn Hall appeared to be packed and there is no doubt that the audience got a fantastic show, and responded accordingly.

Penllergaer Crafters and Icers Craft Fayre

We had an amazing morning today as we were driven up to Penllergaer to visit the craft fayre being staged by the village's Crafters and Icers group.

This group had visited us back in October as part of the Swansea 50 celebrations and I had promised a return visit. It was well worth the wait.

It is fair to say that the goodies on sale were of the highest quality and we left weighed down with a number of additional Christmas decorations, as well as a lovely ginger cake and some presents for others.

There were a huge number of delicious looking cakes, as well as some very generous raffle prizes.

The proceeds of the sale and the raffle will be going to the RNLI and the Wales Air Ambulance, so we were also supporting some very worthy causes.

Swansea 50 - Swansea Historical Society

The 44th event in our series to celebrate Swansea's fiftieth birthday as a city saw Swansea Historical Society join us in the Mansion House for supper.

The event was serendipitous because the Historical Society are celebrating a birthday as well, their tenth.

We have a lovely evening talking about a range of subjects including the history of the Mansion House and of the Lord Mayor's chain.

Swansea 50 - Poppy Sellers and veterans involved in poppy appeal

Our 43rd event in the series of 50 to celebrate Swansea's fiftieth birthday as a city saw those involved in organising the annual poppy appeal and selling them to the general public.

Last year saw a record amount raised by this appeal. They are still totalling up this year's receipts so we don't yet know whether they have surpassed that amount.

It was a privilege to thank everybody there for all they are doing to support servicemen and ex-servicemen and to share an afternoon tea with them.

Swansea Tree Forum

An engagement with a difference this afternoon, as I was asked to join pupils from St. Helen's Primary School and Dylan Thomas Community School to plant trees outside the Guildhall.

The Woodland Trust have awarded the city ten trees as a result of the 'Save Swansea's Trees' campaign in 2018. In addition, two' liquid amber' trees have been purchased by Swansea University's Energy Safety Research Institute as part of their carbon offset programme.

The day started on the banks of the river Tawe, on New Cut Road, near Greggs' bakery, where seven large tree specimens - hornbeam, beech, sweet chestnut, weeping willow and red oak - were planted. Pupils from Gower College's Independent Living Skills course participated in that activity.

Then, at 12.30pm, the pupils from St Helen's and Dylan Thomas joined myself, the council's deputy leader, local councillors and many others from the various bodies involved in this project, to plant three small leaved limes and the two liquid amber trees.

Lots of photographs were taken and we are all looking forward to these trees maturing into substantial additions to the city.

Swansea 50 - Burlais School pupils

Today we welcomed to the Mansion House the Burlais Primary School choir who sang at my inauguration as Mayor back in May, together with some members of the school's Senedd. This is the 42nd event in the 50 we are staging to commemorate Swansea's birthday as a City.

There were about 25 pupils in all, some of whom had been here before with the Cwmbwrla Brownies. I answered questions about my role, the mayoralty and the Mansion House before shooting a short video of the pupils singing happy birthday to Swansea.

Afterwards we treated them to some squash, cakes and crisps.

Lord Mayor's Column - 27th November 2019

We may be coming to the end of the city’s 50th anniversary year, but the number of groups joining me at the Mansion House to celebrate that event is increasing. The objective is to host fifty between 3 July and 10th December, and this week we took a considerable stride towards that target.

There are 6 community groups joining me this week. We started off with Brynmill Community Centre’s ‘Monday Club’ and Gowerton ladies’ choir ‘Voices in Harmony’ on Monday. The Brynmill Buddies Group and the veterans and poppy sellers from the Royal British Legion joined me yesterday.

Children from Burlais school council and choir, who sang at my inauguration, join me this morning, while Swansea Historical Society, who are celebrating their 10th anniversary, will be with me on Thursday.

On Saturday I will be at the Brangwyn Hall for Côr Meibion Pontarddulais Male Choir’s Annual concert. I am very much looking forward to hearing special guests Gwawr Edwards, Sioned Terry and Ellen Williams.

With less than a month to go before Christmas, there are plenty of festive celebrations this week too.

On Sunday I will be joining The West Glamorgan bench – consisting of current and former magistrates - as they hold their annual carol service at St Samlet’s Church in Llansamlet.

I will then return to the Mansion House for our annual Christmas evening and carols, which raises money for the Lord Mayor’s Charity Fund. This year we are fundraising for RSPCA’s Llys Nini, the homelessness charity Crisis and Unity in Diversity.

Tickets are still available, if you’d like to join me, priced at just £15 per person which includes refreshments, entertainment and of course, mulled wine and mince pies. Visit www.facebook.com/lordmayorswansea for more information.

Dylan Thomas Community School annual awards evening

This is the third awards evening I have been to as Lord Mayor, previously I have spoken at the Pentrehafod School evening and presented awards at the Bishop Vaughan School event. Today I attended the Dylan Thomas Community School evening at the Marriott Hotel.

The school has many outstanding pupils, all of whom were recognised with awards and certificates. We also heard the school's brass ensemble, a trio of singers, a trumpet solo and the school choir.

We also heard from Dereck Roberts, the chair of governors, who told us that the school is really buzzing and going places. After this ceremony it is difficult to disagree.

Swansea 50 - Brynmill Buddies Group

The visit of the Brynmill Buddies to the Mansion House this morning was the 41st community based group in our Swansea 50 series, staged to celebrate Swansea's 50th anniversary of becoming a city.

Brynmill Buddies was set up to work with individuals within the community who had become isolated or lonely, giving them a place to go and friends to interact with.

Amongst the group were a number of Swansea University Students who are affiliated to the Discovery Centre. This is a registered charity that has been established since 1966. They currently have around 600 volunteers busy getting involved in over 30 voluntary projects all over the city.

Swansea 50 - Voices in Harmony

The 40th event in our series to celebrate Swansea's 50th birthday as a city saw the Voices in Harmony choir join us for supper.

We were joined by Councillor Sue Jones who represents the Gowerton area and who nominated the choir for the visit.

The choir is based at St. John's Church in Gowerton and was formed eleven years ago. After we had eaten the choir performed three pieces for us, the first of which I videoed and is posted above.

Swansea 50 - Brynmill Community Centre Monday Club

The 39th event in our series of 50 to celebrate Swansea's birthday as a City, saw the Monday Club from Brynmill Community Centre come up to the Mansion House for brunch.

We were joined by Councillor Mary Sherwood, who is one of the four councillors representing the Uplands area.

We now have the remaining eleven events booked in, but will be doing two more in the New Year as a thank you for many of the council employees who have helped to put together and run the 50th anniversary events.

Civic Engagements Week Ending 1 December 2019

Abbey Players - Jesus Christ Superstar

It is over thirty years since I last saw Jesus Christ Superstar so I was looking forward to this production by the Abbey Players.

The professionalism, energy and production values surrounding this production belied the fact that it was an amateur theatre company who were performing it. The singing and acting was outstanding, whilst the staging and the interpretation were all first class.

It was a shame really that this was the last night, as we could easily have gone back to watch it again. We very much enjoyed this show.

Swansea and West Wales Insurance Institute Annual Dinner

A black tie dinner tonight as I joined the Swansea and West Wales Insurance Institute for their annual dinner. I am told that the Lord Mayor attends this dinner every year so it was an honour to continue that tradition.

The guest speaker was the snooker player Willie Thorne, who regaled us with anecdotes about his playing and commenting career, as well as stories from his life afterwards.

And there was a very generous raffle to raise money for a new charity seeking to establish a respite centre for veterans in an old chapel in the north of Swansea, in Felindre.

Tŷ Ogof Recovery Housing Presentation

I had a fascinating afternoon at the Brunswick Methodist Church in St. Helen's Road, which I attended to hear a presentation on a proposal for a recovery house for up to 16 people, to assist them overcome substance misuse addictions.

The church is already hosting a Drop-In Centre project, which is open three evenings a week (Mon, Wed, Sat – 5.00p.m to 9.00p.m) and offers a ‘place of refuge’ to individuals experiencing homelessness and alcohol and drug addiction as well as providing a point of contact for prison leavers and asylum seekers.

The proposal now is to raise funds to acquire a property big enough to accommodate sixteen bedrooms, where those seeking to overcome addiction can live and receive assistance to abstain through the twelve steps programme.

This is an ambitious project and will require working with a number of partners including the council, the Welsh Government, health board and a number of third sector providers. I wish them every success.

The Richard Burton Annual Lecture 2019

The 2019 Richard Burton lecture took place in the Great Hall on Swansea University's Bay Campus, entitled 'Now I become myself' in which Welsh composer, Rhian Samuel talked about her life as a composer of classical music in the USA and the UK, from a time when women composers were an extreme rarity to today, when they are much more prevalent.

She was aided by Siân Dicker (soprano) and Kristal Tunnicliffe (piano), who performed Cerddi Hynafol (Ancient Songs), settings of three medieval Welsh texts apparently by women, and the song ‘Before Dawn’, set to a poem, ‘Mourning to Do’, by American May Sarton.

The lecture was organised by the Richard Burton Centre for the Study of Wales, Cultural Institute, Swansea University and was attended by myself, the Lady Mayoress, the Deputy Mayor of Neath Port Talbot, the Mayor of Neath Town Council and Richard Burton's widow, Sally Burton. The event was part of the Being Human festival, the UK’s only national festival of the humanities, taking place 14–23 November.

Visit to Castle Bingo, Morriston

I had a very pleasant time at the Castle Bingo premises in Morriston today, where under the guidance of Chief Executive, Jeffery Harris, I met some of the clients, and was given lunch.

Castle Bingo raise money every year for the Lord Mayor's charity, so I was delighted to be presented with a cheque for £3,000 and to have the opportunity to thank some of the clientele who had helped to raise that huge amount.

There is a plaque in the foyer to the building listing all the Lord Mayors Castle Bingo has raised money for. The photograph shows myself, with the Chief Executive and General Manager in front of this plaque.

Lord Mayor's Column - 20th November 2019

The Lady Mayoress and I joined over 500 young performers at a spectacular Christmas Parade on Sunday in the city centre. The Council’s events team took over the event for 2019 and produced an outstanding exhibition of all that is best about Swansea – particularly in this, the city’s 50th year.

The civic engagements to celebrate the city’s anniversary continued on Monday with the ‘Friends of Mayhill Washing Lake’ and ‘Hillside Community Food Garden’ visiting the Mansion House for supper. The lake, though it is more the size of small pond, is situated on the hill below Nicander Parade. The Community Food Garden is below it, just above Hewson Street. The group started off as an initiative to carry out regular litter picks and grew into something much bigger.

Later today I will be at The Great Hall in Swansea University’s Bay Campus for the annual Richard Burton Lecture. This year’s theme is ‘Now I become myself: a woman’s voice in music and poetry. Welsh composer Rhian Samuel will talk about her life as a composer of classical music in the USA and the UK, from a time when women composers were an extreme rarity to today when they are much more prevalent.

On Thursday I’ll be visiting Ty Ogaf Recovery Housing - a project by Brunswick Church on St Helen’s Road that offers a place of refuge to individuals experiencing homelessness and addiction as well as providing a point of contact for prison leavers and asylum seekers.

On Friday I will be joining snooker legend Willie Thorne who is guest speaker at the Swansea & West Wales Insurance Institute Annual Dinner at the Marriott Hotel in the marina. Then on Saturday I will be at the Grand Theatre for a performance of Jesus Christ Superstar by local amateur dramatic group Abbey Players.

Visit of Brynhyfryd Primary School Council

It is always good to get a visit from one of the local schools, so it was a pleasure to welcome the school council from Brynhyfryd Primary School to the Mansion House this morning for the 38th event in our series of 50 to celebrate Swansea's anniversary as a City.

Brynhyfryd Primary was one of the two schools who sang at my civic service, including a fantastic mimed contribution, so it was only right that I invite them up to thank them.

As part of the morning I answered some questions from the children, before offering them some soft drinks, cake and savouries. I also presented them with a Swansea 50 badge each, which they are wearing in this photograph.

Swansea 50 - Friends of Mayhill Washing Lake and Hillside Community Food Garden

The 37th event in our celebration of Swansea's 50th birthday saw the Friends of Mayhill Washing Lake and Hillside Community Food Garden join us in the Mansion House for supper.

The lake, though it is more the size of small pond is situated on the hill below Nicander Parade. The Community Food Garden is below it, just above Hewson Street. The group started off as an initiative to carry out regular litter picks and grew into something much bigger.

In trying to find out more about the group I came across this piece from local historian, Nigel Robins:

One of the most important physical features of Anglo-Norman Swansea still exists above ground!

A good reliable water supply was essential for any town and any stream or spring that was used quickly became a central part of local life. The sandstone of Town Hill provided many springs of good clear water which the earliest Norman inhabitants of the town prized very highly.

As is common in most cultures, prominent physical features were given names, many of which survive cultural and language changes. This stream which arises from a spring on the hill above Swansea Institute was the most famous and useful spring to supply the early town with its water. It was known for hundreds of years as ‘Washing Lake’ which is derived from the Old English words ‘waesse’ and ‘lacu’ meaning wet or swampy stream.

English language place names date from the earliest history of the town of Swansea. Indeed some local Welsh place names have been shown to be derived from original ancient English names.

The Washing Lake ran from the field above the original Workhouse which was known as Cae Cwm in the 1830s, down through the workhouse enclosure and down the side of the road known as Bryn Syfi. The modern road of Mount Pleasant is the small valley carved by Washing Lake as it made its way down to the river. The stream had a number of tributaries which made it a substantial torrent by the time it got to the bottom of the hill.

Some of the large houses at the bottom of Mount Pleasant built bridges and culverts for the stream. One of the original culverts can still be seen in the rear wall of the Windsor Lodge hotel.

By the 1700s the stream was used to feed the large tannery that was built on fields on the western side of the medieval town (where The Hanbury pub is today). The stream has never been known to dry up and provided much of the western side of medieval Swansea with their water supply. The lower reaches of the stream were equally useful as a sewer which emptied into the town ditch.

The stream figured heavily in early attempts to build reservoirs in the 1800s. It still has traces of the cast iron pipes and sandstone walls from that time. The name Washing Lake receded into history when the stream ceased to be important. Washing Lake miraculously survived redevelopment in the early 1900s, 1920s, 1950s and the 1990s, and remains an enigmatic survival of the medieval town. It still survives today as part of the local wildlife corridor.

It was a pleasure to meet the many volunteers who are helping to transform this area, and to retain a strong sense of community in the small area Mayhill and North Hill.

Christmas Parade

I am told that technically, the annual show that kickstarts Christmas in Swansea is the 'Lord Mayor's Christmas Parade', but nobody ever calls it that, nor is there any reason to do so. After a disappointing parade last year, the Councils events team took over for 2019 and produced an outstanding exhibition of all that is best about Swansea.

It was a cast of thousands with 3 Welsh Wing Marching Band, and Royal Air Force Air Cadets in the lead, and entertainment from Loughor Town Band, Bloco Vale Samba, Swansea Pipe Band and Swansea Silver Rhythmaries.

There were more than 500 young performers from Swansea drama and dance groups, including Mellin Theatre Arts, Swansea Dance Twerk Team, Acting Up Theatre Company/Maria Evans Academy, Company J, Barton Dance Academy, Zumba with Sion, Bernadette Jones School of Irish Dance, Swansea Dancing Samba, Bonymaen Kids Play Initiative, Class Act Theatre School, Jermin Productions, Rising Stars, Joan Williams Stage School plus Swansea Little Theatre and the Carly Lewis School of Dance. They performed festive themes ranging from the Swan Lake ballet to modern street dance to Christmas trees and shining stars.

And there were many familiar characters including Cinderella, Snow White, Elsa from Frozen, Spiderman, Rapunzel, Beauty and the Beast, Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, and Toy Story’s Woody, Buzz and Jess as well as Santa on his sleigh. 

The Lady Mayoress and I were in the centre of the parade in a borrowed BMW 8 series convertible, which was a bit cramped. We didn't see much of the parade and missed the light switch-on and the fireworks, but it was worth it to see the delight on hundreds of children's faces as we went past sandwiched between a balloon North Pole and a lit-up land train.

All the photos in this post were taken as we got ready to embark. I am sure that many more will appear on the council's social media pages and in the local media.

Civic Engagements Week Ending 24 November 2019

Swansea 50 - Friends of De La Beche Park

The 36th event in our celebrations of Swansea's 50th birthday saw the Friends of De La Beche Park come to the Mansion House for supper.

De La Beche Park is situated in Sketty and has tennis courts, a bowling green, a community lounge and a war memorial. The group who joined us tonight consisted of local residents who use those facilities and help the council maintain them.

The group also included three of the local councillors, who nominated the group for this event. 

Swansea 50 - Port Tennant Community Centre

Our 35th event in the series to celebrate Swansea's 50th year as a city, saw a group from Port Tennant Community Centre join us for afternoon tea at the Mansion House.

The group meet every week at the community centre and usually enjoy a chat and a game of bingo. Unfortunately, we had not been far-sighted enough to set up a bingo game in the Mansion House.

Nevertheless, the group appeared to all enjoy themselves and the unique experience the Mansion House offers.

Swansea Bay Tourism Awards

This is a bi-annual event to award those who deliver excellence to the 4.78 million visitors to the Swansea Bay area, generating £447.74 million in revenue for the area and supporting 5,753 jobs.

It was compered by Kevin Johns and included 19 awards in all in categories such as large hotel, guesthouses, self catering units, caravans and campsites, restaurants, bistros, cafés and tearooms. pubs. bars, activity providers, attractions, live music venues, festivals and events and wedding venues amongst many others.

The Brangwyn Hall was packed with nominees and their guests as we celebrated the best that Swansea Bay has to offer. Details of the winners will appear here in due course.

Swansea 50 - Veteran's Club

The 34th event in our Swansea 50 series this afternoon saw the Veterans' Club come up to the Mansion House along with St. John's Church Musical Players, who support them.

The Veterans' Club has about 200 members and was formed to support the many veterans who, because of their service, suffer from health and housing problems.  They have a branch as far as Brighton, but are essentially a Swansea based volunteer-led organisation.

It was a privilege to be able to invite them to the Mansion House to thank them for their service and everything they do for others.

We were joined by the Councillor for Gowerton and the Council's Armed Forces Champion.

Swansea 50 - Friends of Swansea Botanics

The 33rd of our series of events celebrating Swansea's 50th anniversary as a City saw a large group from the Friends of the Botanical Gardens join us for brunch. #

The botanical gardens in Singleton Park are themselves celebrating their 100th anniversary so it was a pleasure to be able to host the volunteers who help to keep that asset in order.

Amongst the group we had for breakfast were three of the Sketty ward councillors, a former Lord Mayor and a former Lady Mayoress (different terms).

Lord Mayor's column - 13th November 2019

On Monday, at the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month, I joined the High Sheriff, Lord Lieutenant and representatives of the armed forces, emergency services, the British Legion and many more at the windswept cenotaph on Swansea sea front to remember all those who have given their lives fighting for their country, and to preserve peace and freedom throughout the world.

At the same time the Deputy Lord Mayor joined residents at the Silence in the Square commemoration at Castle Square in the city centre, which also included performances by soloists Lauren Fisher and James Oakley.

Celebrations for Swansea’s 50th anniversary as a city continue this week with four more community groups from across the city visiting the Mansion House.

Groups include Friends of Swansea Botanical Gardens, the Veterans Club, Port Tennant Community Group and Friends of De La Beche Park.

We’re aiming for 50 community groups to help us celebrate the city’s 50th anniversary, and we are well on the way to achieving this milestone.

The annual Christmas Parade and lights switch-on takes place in the city centre on Sunday. This year’s parade promises to create a real carnival atmosphere full of light, music, dancing and featuring everyone's favourite fairy tale and movie characters.

It will be a community celebration of the city’s anniversary with over 500 local young performers taking part, alongside singers, dancers, marching bands and of course Father Christmas.

Starting at 5pm, the parade will run from the Dylan Thomas Centre up Wind Street, Castle Street and High Street, into Alexandra Road, down Orchard Street and along The Kingsway.

There will be not one, but two Christmas light switch-ons in Castle Square and the Kingsway. It promises to be a great evening, and I hope you will all join me there.

Glamorgan House Family Development Centre Fundraiser

A fundraiser with a difference this evening as I called in at Swan Gardens, a Family Housing Association retirement complex for Chinese citizens. They were raising money for Glamorgan House Family Development Centre.

Glamorgan House Family Development Centre is an accredited children’s contact centre, providing various services to vulnerable families undergoing some of the most distressed periods in their lives. They cater to all circumstances by offering three different types of contact; supported, supervised and hand over services.

Working closely with mediation services, they encourage improved relations between the parents and to focus on the best interests of their child. In the midst of separation, divorce, family conflict and abuse, they believe it is vital to us as a children’s centre to deliver safety, neutrality, support and a relaxed atmosphere.

This is the only supervised contact centre between here and Cardiff and they rely on volunteers and donations to keep running. I was present as an Assembly Member, when it opened and it continues to do vital work.

It was a fun evening involving a full Chinese buffet, a raffle and even a game of bingo. Hopefully a lot of money was raised.

Presentation of Gideon's Bible

It is traditional for every Lord Mayor to be presented with a Gideon's Bible, so this afternoon I met Jeff Bowen in the Lord Mayor's parlour so that he could present me with mine.

This year the Bible was slightly different as the cover was designed to reflect the fact that it is the 50th anniversary of Swansea as a City.

Citizenship Ceremony

The monthly citizenship ceremony today saw eleven people receive UK citizenship at the registration office in the civic centre.

Those who had passed the test included people from Kuwait, Poland, Nigeria, Germany, Syria, Romania, Greece, and Thailand.

As usual myself, the High Sheriff and a Deputy Lord Lieutenant spoke about our respective roles before presenting the new citizens with a certificate and a small token gift from the City and County of Swansea.

Cenotaph

Today, on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month, Councillors, the Lord Mayor, high Sheriff, Lieutenant and representatives of the various branches of the armed forces, the British Legion, Police and many more gathered at the windswept cenotaph on Swansea sea front to remember all those who have given their lives fighting for their country, and to preserve peace and freedom throughout the world.

The service waa conducted by Canon Ian Rees, after which we laid wreaths at the cenotaph.

We then moved onto the Boer War cenotaph, further down the promenade where we lay more wreaths.

St. Mary's Church Remembrance Service and Parade

The second remembrance service today was the main City Centre one in St. Mary's Church. My role was to deliver a reading from the New Testament and to place a wreath at the altar.

After the service, myself, the Lord Lieutenant and the High Sheriff moved to a dais outside the main market entrance on Oxford Street where we took the salute from the various organisations involved in the service. 

Mumbles Remembers

The first of two remembrance services this morning was at All Saints Church in Oystermouth, Mumbles. It was attended by myself, the Council Presiding Officer, Deputy Lord Lieutenant, High Sheriff, Chair of Mumbles Community Council, and representatives of the RNLI and many other organisations in Mumbles and the surrounding area.

Afterwards we walked to the main Mumbles cenotaph on the front where the local clergy conducted the remembrance service and all the representatives and organisations laid wreaths.

There were refreshments in the Mumbles Yacht Club but we were unable to attend as we needed to return home to prepare for the afternoon service at St. Mary's Church.