Senghenydd Mining Disaster
The Aber Valley Centenary Project, which is spearheading the creation of a new memorial at Senghenydd to commemorate the 1913 mining disaster and provide a National Mining Memorial, is up for a Heritage Lottery Award.
This is the only project from Wales competing in the heritage section so I urge readers to consider voting for this project.
The museum at Senghenydd displays artefacts and information about the disaster and is now working to create the memorial in a planned Garden of Remembrances.
This will stand alongside a wall comprised of 521 bricks to commemorate the 521 miners killed in the two disasters at Senghenydd, each bearing the name, age and address of one of the lost miners. One of those was my great grandfather Evan Hopcyn James.
Everyone is working together to create the memorial wall with local school children and their families playing their part.
If the project wins there is a £2,000 cash prize which would be very useful for their work.
To vote visit www.lotterygoodcauses.org.uk/awards or call 0844 836 9691. Calls cost 5p from a BT landline and I am told that up to 10 calls can be made from the same number.
By coincidence I’ve been invited this Friday to talk to children at Ysgol Gynradd Gymraeg Caerffili in Pontygwindy Road about the Senghenydd Disaster, which was the UK’s worst mining accident. It is important our young people are made aware of the area’s past.
Smacking Children
I will be tabling an amendment to the Welsh Government’s Social Services and Wellbeing Bill when it comes back to the Senedd later this year.
Wales has a fantastic opportunity to lead the way and ban smacking and I’m not prepared to sit on my hands until after the next Assembly election.
This has been dragging on for 11 years and we don’t appear any further forward. I want Assembly Members to support an amendment to the bill which would remove the defence of chastisement for assaulting a child.
Civic Service
Penyrheol, Trecenydd and Energlyn Community Council hold its civic service at Groeswen Chapel on Sunday (3pm). It is particularly poignant because it will be the first gathering since one of our community councillors, Anne Collins, passed away.
Lindsay Whittle
Plaid Cymru AM South Wales East
Is there a list of the names of the miners who died in the mining disaster of 1913? please advise where I may see it. My Grandfather was Benjamin Davies and my Great Grandfather was Lewis Davies (I believe he died in a mining disaster). Thanking you….Monica Condon
Hi Monica,
There is a list at the Heritage museum in Senghenydd,,, there open most days, but if you want to check before hand by all means give them a call, details at http://your.caerphilly.gov.uk/abervalleyheritage/…
Regards Cllr Lyndon Binding