Item 5 on the agenda is the 90-second statements and the first today is from Rhun ap Iorwerth.

Thank you very much. Thank you for the opportunity to wish a happy birthday to an institution that’s made a huge contribution to health and fitness on Anglesey, and which also happens to be a centre of sporting excellence of worldwide renown.

One of the highlights of the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games was Welsh weightlifter Gareth Evans's stunning gold medal-winning performance. His lifting was immense, but just as impressive was the passion he showed in running over to his coach, Ray Williams, to celebrate. Ray himself had realised a dream as a coach, but before coaching, he himself had won gold for Wales at the 1986 games in Edinburgh. Ray had been introduced to lifting by Bob Wrench, a bronze winner in the Christchurch games in 1974, and it was Bob who had the vision to establish the Holyhead and Anglesey Weightlifting and Fitness Centre 50 years ago. 

A high-school sports teacher, not only was he hugely talented at weightlifting, he could see what lifting could offer to the area's young people, many of whom would otherwise not have such opportunities. Ray and Gareth were among thousands to benefit. To give you an idea of HAWFC's success, Ray himself has coached lifters to 97 gold medals of youth and senior at Welsh and international levels. But it's the community aspect of the club that's just as important. This is a centre with its doors open to all. So, happy birthday Holyhead and Anglesey Weightlifting and Fitness Centre. 

Happy birthday and a long life to an institution that’s done so much for its community and, through its excellence, has done so much to put Holyhead and Anglesey on the global sporting map.

Vikki Howells.

With the death of Frank Vickery yesterday at the age of 67 after a short illness, Wales hasn’t just lost one of its most prolific playwrights, we've also lost one of the most perceptive observers of the characters, humour and wit of the south Wales Valleys.

The son of a Rhondda miner, Frank left school at 15. He worked in various jobs, whilst acting and writing in his spare time. His first play, written at the age of just 21, was After I’m Gone, and won the Howard De Walden trophy in the British Final Festival of One-Act Plays.

In a long writing career, Frank wrote for theatre, radio and television, but he was most famous for his 30 plays. He ascribed his popularity to being able to pick up the music—the rhythm of how people spoke—and in this, he was phenomenally successful. Frank captured the recognisable and realistic personality of the communities where he was born and raised. That is why Valleys communities took him to their heart, his plays often forming the mainstay of theatres like the Coliseum in Aberdare.

Frank was also not averse to treading the boards, reaching out to new audiences with his show-stealing pantomime dames. Frank did so much for the Valleys and the arts during his life. While his infectious on-screen presence will be sorely missed, his humour will live on through his comprehensive collection of outstanding plays.

Thank you.