Diolch yn fawr, Llywydd. As a young boy, the name Betty Campbell came up many times in conversation at home. She was in school with my auntie, and through education and local politics in Cardiff became firm friends with my father. I was always in awe of Betty. At a young age, I knew nothing about her accomplishments—that came later on. But even as a youngster, I experienced this incredible character with a rebellious streak and a great turn of phrase—and she could take somebody down a peg or two very quickly.

She was the independent councillor in Butetown when this place was established, and I'd like to just mention two stories from that time, which I think encapsulate her personality perfectly. There was a bus for dignitaries, taking people back from Tŷ Hywel to their cars. My father persuaded Betty to come on the bus, and Betty persuaded the bus driver to do a detour to the Butetown estate, to take her home. Therefore, the bus went on a detour to Butetown, and there the bus remained, outside her house for ages, as she finished talking with everyone on the bus. She lived at the heart of the community she served. And then around the same time, I remember being at a dinner to mark the occasion, and she was sitting next to an official of the Queen, and they got on very well—she could get on with everyone. But after a while, she asked him, 'Well, what do you do?', and some grand title came back. Quickly, Betty asked, 'Well, how do you get that job? I didn't see that one advertised.' He laughed as much as everyone else did.

Her challenges that she overcame are well known: being one of the first six pupils at Cardiff Teacher Training College, which later became Cardiff Metropolitan University, is incredible; the first black headteacher in Wales, in the 1970s; and an inspiration to thousands upon thousands. I heard Betty say several times that she was proud to be black and proud to be Welsh—the two went hand in hand, they went together with Betty.

I am grateful to the team behind Monumental Welsh Women for ensuring that the statue of Betty Campbell is the first of many statues that will appear to commemorate women in Wales. But, can I say, there is nobody more fitting to be first than Betty? Diolch yn fawr.