4. 90-second Statements

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 3:39 pm on 11 July 2018.

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Photo of Andrew RT Davies Andrew RT Davies Conservative 3:39, 11 July 2018

Thank you, Presiding Officer. I'd like to draw Members' attention to the sculpture that's on the eastern side of the bay, called 'Pit to Port'. This was a lifelong ambition of Donald Ronald Harris, who was a lifelong resident of south Wales, and was a chartered ship broker and coal exporter. In a career spanning 45 years, he rose to become the south Wales area manager of Powell Duffryn International Fuels. During his period at the docks, Ron was responsible for the shipment of millions of tonnes of coal from south Wales to the continent and the rest of the world. Ron played a key role in a project for producing a dedication to the south Wales coal miners, and the industry in the area, but sadly passed away before the scheme got under way. Ron was especially keen to emphasise the link between the south Wales coal industry and Cardiff docks. Their success was intertwined and neither would have survived or thrived without the other.

Following his death, Ron's wife, Margaret, took up the challenge of seeing the project through. Along with a team of dedicated supporters, she raised £55,000 for the sculpture 'Pit to Port'. Next Monday sees the thirteenth anniversary of its unveiling on 16 July 2005 and fittingly features a coal miner, a coal truck and a steam ship. It stands just a few minutes' walk from here in Cardiff Bay, across from the Norwegian church in Brittania Park. I'm sure all Members will join me in paying tribute to Margaret and Ron for their role in securing this fitting monument of Cardiff and south Wales's industrial heritage.