– in the Senedd at 3:22 pm on 21 September 2022.
Item 6 is the 90-second statements, and the first of those is from Russell George.
Diolch, Deputy Presiding Officer. I'm grateful for the opportunity to raise the fantastic work being done by Andy Airey, Mike Palmer and Tim Owen—better known as the 3 Dads Walking. The three fathers who each tragically lost their daughters due to taking their own lives are currently taking on their second challenge, which is a 500-mile trek to highlight suicide prevention and to raise money for the prevention charity, Papyrus. The 3 Dads Walking started their challenge at St Andrews House in Edinburgh on Saturday, 10 September, which was World Suicide Prevention Day, and they're arriving here at the Senedd on the evening of 1 October.
Suicide is the biggest killer, sadly, of people under the age of 35 in the UK, and every year, more than 200 schoolchildren sadly take their own lives. The 3 Dads Walking believe that, by raising awareness, we can all raise together the issues and prevent other families from being devastated in the same way. The dads are walking through each of the nations—Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales and England—in memory of their daughters, Beth, Sophie and Emily, and they're close to raising an outstanding £1 million for the Papyrus Prevention of Young Suicide charity. I wanted to raise this in the Senedd this afternoon as it's an important issue to highlight, and I wanted to highlight the amazing work of the three dads. Diolch. Thank you.
Today is World Alzheimer's Day. World Alzheimer's Day is a global opportunity to raise awareness, educate, encourage, support and demystify all types of dementia. Dementia is a complex condition and often people need specialist support to help them live their lives, keep them safe and protect their well-being. Research for Alzheimer's Society Cymru found that 45 per cent of people with a diagnosis in Wales felt that they hadn't received enough support in the past year. In Wales, there are around 50,000 people living with dementia, with this number estimated to rise to around 100,000 by 2050.
A diagnosis can be daunting, but it's better to know than not to know. Nine out of 10 people with dementia have said that they benefited from getting a diagnosis, allowing more time to plan for the future and unlock the door to treatment, care and support. So, my message this World Alzheimer's Day to everybody affected by dementia in the South Wales East region and across Wales is that you are not alone. If you are worried about your memory or the memory of your loved one, there is support out there for you from organisations such as Alzheimer's Society Cymru, who can support you in making the process of getting a dementia diagnosis as clear as possible. So, please do not suffer in silence. And I'd like to say to all of the Members here today in the Chamber and beyond the Chamber that those with Alzheimer's and dementia might forget us but we, together, must not forget them. Thank you.
I'd like to pay tribute to the late Tony Paris, who sadly passed away last week. Tony was one of the Cardiff Three, who were wrongly convicted of the tragic and violent murder of Lynette White only a few minutes' walk from this Chamber. I remember as a young boy the protests in Cardiff for justice for the Cardiff Three. I also remember the persistent gossip about them. I also remember, as a young barrister, the former police officers, in open court, saying that they were still guilty of murder. And, despite receiving apologies from South Wales Police, that corruption trial against the former police officers fell because of missing evidence, which was later discovered a few days afterwards.
Injustice towards Tony Paris did not finish when he walked out of those prison gates.
South Wales Police has a poor history when it comes to miscarriages of justice, especially with regard to people from ethnic minorities. This month also marks 70 years of the wrongful hanging of Mahmood Mattan at Cardiff prison. We cannot forget these miscarriages of justice. That's why I support Cassie Parris, the daughter of Tony, who carries on with his fight for justice and who is starting a campaign to name a street in Tony's beloved Butetown after him. Tony Paris championed justice for all; Wales and the world will be a poorer place without him. Diolch yn fawr.
It was with terrible sadness that Wales learned about the death of Eddie Butler. A gentle giant, Eddie captained Pontypool RFC, he captained the Wales team and played for the Barbarians and Lions, but it was as a commentator that Eddie became not only a household name but a familiar household presence on match days. In our triumphs and our disappointments, Eddie's melodious voice accompanied us, chronicling those moments when we as a nation held our collective breath. Eddie always found the words. As Gary Lineker has said, Eddie was a true Welsh poet who brought games alive with fervour and passion.
He was an ardent campaigner, lending his support and his might to organisations ranging from DEC Cymru to prostate cancer and Velindre. But, Wales's own story held a fascination for him. It was an immense privilege for me to share a platform with Eddie in the Merthyr independence rally in 2019. That day, Merthyr was full of enthusiasm and excitement, and Eddie crafted the words that channelled those emotions and gave voice to our hopes and very dreams. His voice will be missed, he will be missed. Eddie, the one and only, was truly irreplaceable. Nos da, Eddie, and we'll see you at the final whistle.
And finally, Elin Jones.
The first female chat show host in the history of British television was a middle-aged woman from Briton Ferry, Mavis Nicholson, the daughter of a Port Talbot steelworks crane operator. Born in the 1930s, brought up in a small terraced house, she went on to study English at Swansea University under Kingsley Amis. She moved to London and was spotted by Thames Television in her early forties, and thus, in 1971, began her career in television. She co-hosted a weekly afternoon programme, Tea Break, along with Judith Chalmers, Mary Parkinson, Mary Berry.
In 1984 she joined the new Channel 4, hosting her daytime interview show, Mavis on 4. She was the master of the long-form interview. Actress Maureen Lipman said there was a Frost-Nixon moment in every one of her interviews. She interviewed so many of the big names—Elizabeth Taylor, Rudolf Nureyev, Kenneth Williams. But she was as inquisitive of the lives of the people sitting next to her on the train as she was of the Lauren Bacalls and David Bowies of this world.
She presented radio too. She hosted Start the Week and Woman’s Hour, and deputised for Jimmy Young on Radio 2.
She was awarded the Bafta Cymru Special Award for Outstanding Contribution to Television in 2018. And what a contribution that was. I wonder if today’s Loose Women or Emma Barnett know who smashed the glass ceiling for them. It was Mavis Nicholson in her Briton Ferry lilt.
Mavis moved back to Wales over 20 years ago and died on 8 September in Llanrhaeadr ym Mochnant at the age of 91.
Thank you, everyone.