Lord Mayor's Column - 5th February 2020

Yesterday saw the second royal visit to Swansea of my civic year when I greeted the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge at Mumbles Lifeboat Station. Lifeboat operations in Mumbles have been looked after by the RNLI since 1863 and today the station is one of the busiest in Wales. Their Royal Highnesses boarded the lifeboat and spoke to crew members about day-to-day life as part of a team, which provides 24-hour rescue services to those facing difficulties at sea.

The visit follows on from HRH The Prince of Wales and HRH Duchess of Cornwall’s trip to the Patti Pavilion and Morriston Tabernacle back in July, in celebration of Swansea’s 50th anniversary as a city.

This morning, I hosted a group of students from our twin city Mannheim. Student exchanges such as these happen frequently and are a wonderful way of fostering friendships and understanding between different cultures. Swansea has been twinned with Mannheim since 1957 and I made my own visit to the German city just before Christmas.

This afternoon I will be at Gower College’s Tycoch campus for an audience with their Independent Living Skills students. In partnership with the council’s social services department, the college provides tailored courses for students with learning difficulties, specialist education needs and/or behavioural requirements.

Tomorrow, I will be celebrating the official launch of another educational establishment – Swansea University’s brand new Institute of Innovative materials, processing and numerical technologies (IMPACT). Students in the £35 million state-of-the-art engineering research institute at the university’s bay campus aim to work closely with industry partners in developing new pioneering technology.

From a brand new educational establishment, to a celebration of Bishopston Primary School’s 70th anniversary on Saturday, as I join pupils, teachers and parents for the school’s anniversary concert at All Saints Church in Oystermouth.