5. 4. 90-second Statements

– in the Senedd at 3:27 pm on 19 July 2017.

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Photo of Elin Jones Elin Jones Plaid Cymru 3:27, 19 July 2017

(Translated)

The next item is the 90-second statements. Ann Jones.

Photo of Ann Jones Ann Jones Labour

(Translated)

Thank you, Llywydd. The Assembly term has come to an end and the school term has finished as well. Sixty years ago, Rhyl became the home of the first bilingual school and that then led to a growth in Welsh education throughout Wales. So, congratulations to Ysgol Glan Clwyd. I am very pleased to be Assembly Member for the Vale of Clwyd, the birthplace of bilingual education.

Photo of Elin Jones Elin Jones Plaid Cymru

(Translated)

Well done. Hannah Blythyn.

Photo of Hannah Blythyn Hannah Blythyn Labour

I’m proud to serve an area with a rich industrial heritage, whether that be steel, coal, or manufacturing. This coming weekend, a major piece of that industrial heritage will be unveiled at the grand opening of a restored pit wheel and pony structure at the Point of Ayr colliery. The site was the last deep mine in north Wales, and, whilst the memories live on for those who worked there, the monuments and structure of this pit have faded with its demolition. But now work to transform this key site is well under way. The Point of Ayr Then and Now team, led by passionate chair, John Wiltshire, have worked tirelessly to see memories brought back to life for the restoration and return of parts of our industrial past, including an original pithead that now has pride of place on the edge of Ffynnongroew. The project was awarded over £40,000 from the Heritage Lottery Fund, which has provided the financial support to deliver this ambition. John shared the story of this project here at an event in March, and the following month saw the opening of the Point of Ayr trail, the first stage of this exciting project.

(Translated)

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Ann Jones) took the Chair.

Photo of Hannah Blythyn Hannah Blythyn Labour 3:27, 19 July 2017

Celebrating our industrial heritage is an important part of understanding and recognising our past, and essential in shaping our future. On Sunday, I have the privilege of officially unveiling the restored pit wheel and pony structure, marking the start of a journey of discovery for many families, local people, and, importantly, future generations, as part of our history is brought back home.

This will be a special day for the community, the former Point of Ayr workers, their families, and the committed team that have worked to make this happen. It will not only be a proud moment for me as the Assembly Member for Delyn, but for me personally, as my taid, uncle, and many members of my family worked at the Point of Ayr.

Photo of Dawn Bowden Dawn Bowden Labour

Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. Last week I was delighted to attend Fochriw Primary School’s red kite celebration fair-trade coffee afternoon. The red kite project at the school is designed to develop the pupils to be ethically informed and to hold strong values about the environment and the nature that is around them. For the project, the school formed an eco-committee, which came up with a range of ideas, including a pupil voice and ownership of the project, three school rules, which were to be respectful, to be responsible, and to be safe, and, as part of this, pupils were encouraged to be even more respectful to wildlife, both in and out of school, to develop their digital and real-life skills, and to promote Cwricwlwm Cymraeg, with the story of the red kite in Wales. The project gave pupils a realisation that nature is all around us, if only we open our eyes. As they said, it is really special, and we need to be responsible in looking after it now and for future generations.

Arising from their activity, the project has not only raised awareness of the red kite, but has also raised money, enabling the school to make a donation to the Gwent Ornithological Society, which uses the money to replace nest boxes in the Goytre House wood. The pupils embarked on an intensive social media campaign to share their experiences of the project and provide information on the red kite, which is regularly seen in the area around Fochriw, and in the wider Rhymney valley.

The project received its well-earned recognition when it recently won the 2017 Young People’s Trust for the Environment’s Better Energy School award, for the Wales and west region. Can I ask Assembly Members to join me in congratulating Fochriw Primary School on its award, and applauding their fantastic work on the red kite project, and in raising awareness of the environmental issues amongst young people, whilst at the same time developing their digital skills? Diolch.

Photo of Elin Jones Elin Jones Plaid Cymru 3:31, 19 July 2017

(Translated)

Forty years ago to this week, in 1977, I left Ysgol Gynradd Llanwnnen, at 10 years old, to go to high school in Lampeter. Forty-nine years ago to this week, my fellow Member, Dai Lloyd, left ysgol Llanwnnen too, also to go to secondary school.

This week, every child will leave ysgol Llanwnnen, and the school will close its doors forever. The schools at Cwrtnewydd and Llanwenog will also close their doors, and in September, all the pupils will commence their education at Ysgol Dyffryn Cledlyn, a new area school.

More than 400 years of education has been provided between the three schools—Llanwnnen, Llanwenog and Cwrtnewydd—to generations of children. My grandmother, and my father, before me, were at ysgol Llanwnnen. But this is no time for feeling disheartened, but rather a time to look forward enthusiastically for another century and more of education for children of the area at Ysgol Dyffryn Cledlyn.

A fortnight ago, I walked into ysgol Llanwnnen to the sound of the children singing, ‘Rwy’n canu fel cana’r aderyn’—a song that I sang 40 years ago and more at the school. Therefore, yes, things do change but some things remain. The buildings and the facilities do change, but the education, the singing, the playing and the Welsh language go on.

Thank you, therefore, for the excellent start to life that Llanwnnen, Llanwenog and Cwrtnewydd schools gave to so many of us. I wish Ysgol Dyffryn Cledlyn a long and happy life.