Lord Mayor's Column - 26th February 2020

I represented the council at the funeral of former Swansea Council cabinet member for education, John Miles at Llanelli crematorium yesterday. As well as serving the community as council ward member in Pontarddulais, John was a big champion of Welsh medium education and helped promote the opening of Ysgol Gynradd Gymraeg Llwynderw in West Cross. He was also involved in the opening of the new St Thomas Primary school - one of the first schools in the area to also include community facilities, an innovative approach at the time.

On Friday I will be at Penlan Social Club to present trophies to the winners of the Tony Blake Award. The award was set up to remember the contribution that Tony had made to the community following his passing - particularly for his work with the Preseli Penlan Football Club, which he ran for 47 years - and encourage others to do similar things.

The award is open to anyone living or working in Penderry ward with the trophy awarded to a different person every year, giving local volunteers the recognition they deserve.

On Saturday I will be joining Alex Mills - a former contestant on Lord Alan Sugar’s TV programme ‘The Apprentice’ - at the Dylan Thomas Centre to celebrate the success of UWTSD students’ achievements in leadership and management.

Most students who have achieved this ILM certification are mature students, and their effort is all the more impressive considering the majority are also working full time and supporting their families, studying over evenings and weekends.

Later on Saturday, the Deputy Lord Mayor will be attending the Gwalia Singers’ ‘March into March’ concert at All Saints Church in Oystermouth. The concert, also featuring Swansea Rock Choir is in aid of Hafan-y-Môr Children’s Therapy Centre Support Group based in Singleton Hospital.