Civic Engagements Week Ending 12 May 2019

Step out for Stroke - Stroke Association Walk

It is a beautiful sunny day, so it was off to Aberavon Beach to join the Deputy Mayor of Neath Port Talbot for the annual Stroke Association walk. This event is run jointly by the branches in Three Crosses in Swansea and Neath Port Talbot and aims to bring together stroke survivors, friends and families in a communal walk.

Each step helps to raise awareness of stroke and vital funds for the Stroke Associations work in supporting those affected by stroke. People walk at their own pace and in their own time.

This event used to be held in Mumbles but as that promenade has become congested in recent years it has been relocated to the amazing Aberavon Beach. It was a real family affair, complete with samba band and I enjoyed several conversations with the participants on the route.

I hope that they raised a good amount of money to support their future activities.

Civic Engagements Week Ending 5 May 2019

Civic Engagements Week Ending 28 April 2019

Civic Engagements Week Ending 21 April 2019

Morriston Ladies Choir 78th Annual Concert

This evening we were in the magnificent Tabernacle Chapel in Morriston, one of only twelve Grade one-listed chapels in Wales, and the largest and loftiest. Tabernacle, planned as the ultimate evocation of a Welsh chapel in terms of architecture, space and facilities, was completed in 1872 at a staggering cost of £18,000.

The occasion was the 78th annual concert of the Morriston Ladies Choir. As their website says, Morriston Ladies Choir, or MLC as its affectionately known, was formed in 1941 by Miss Lillian Abbot and members of the Local First Aid Defence Group, wedging their way in-between the many strong male voice choirs that dominated the area and still do.

They were supported by the Swansea Citadel Salvation Army Band, and Samuel Wyn Morris, a 22 Year old Welsh Speaking Llanelli Boy, who is a former head boy of Ysgol Y Strade. Sam graduated from the prestigious Guildford School of Acting with a first class honours degree in musical theatre in 2017 and made his professional debut at The Old Vic at the beginning of 2018.

Civic Engagements Week Ending 14 April 2019

Civic Engagements Week Ending 7 April 2019

Welsh Music Legends Launch

This evening I went straight from the council meeting to the Waterfront Museum for the launch of the Welsh Music Legends CD. This is a joint venture between Ysgol Pen y Bryn and Cwmrhydyceirw Primary School.

Over a period of time the two schools worked with Welsh Music Legends such as Wyn Evans and Bonnie Tyler to record five classic songs - Calon Lan, Holding out for a Hero, Have a Nice Day, The Impossible Dream and Never Enough. An interactive book about the project can be viewed on iTunes here.

All the proceeds of selling the CD will go to Bobarth Cymru, who run a Therapy Centre to improve the quality of life of children with cerebral palsy in Wales.

The launch itself was a fantastic experience with the combined choirs of the two schools treating us to the songs on the album. The place was packed out with proud parents and relatives and at the end the performance got a deserved standing ovation.

Civic Engagements Week Ending 31 March 2019

Tenovus Cancer Care Mobile Support Unit

With members of the Tenovus choir

Tenovus Cancer Care's third and newest mobile support unit rolled into the Liberty Stadium today, and I was there as Deputy Lord Mayor to meet them and look around the facility.

This is the charity's third and newest mobile support unit. It was launched in October and is the largest mobile chemotherapy space in the world. It delivers treatment to the people of Swansea and surrounding areas twice a month, offering patients shorter journey times, less waiting in hospitals and more time to spend with loved ones at difficult times.

The unit cost £700,000 and is run by money raised by the charity. They have two more units operating in Wales performing an invaluable service in bringing treatment to patients. often in inaccessible areas.

Unfortunately, I was unable to stay to listen to the Swansea Tenovus Cancer Care Sing with us choir, but I did see them in St. Mary's Church in December and will no doubt see them again during the next year.