MIKE HEDGES AM SPEAKS AT THE ASSEMBLY TO CELEBRATE SWANSEA 50TH ANNIVERSARY AS A CITY.

MIKE HEDGES AM SPEAKS AT THE ASSEMBLY TO CELEBRATE SWANSEA 50^TH ANNIVERSARY AS A CITY.

Speaking from the Assembly, Swansea East AM Mike Hedges said… it is a great honour to be part of the celebrations as Swansea celebrates its 50 years as a city. I was thrilled to attend Tabernacle Chapel this morning when Prince Charles visited as part of the Celebrations. It was good to see the children from local schools such as Pentregraig attending the event too – these children will have memories of today which will last a life time. Swansea has changed in every way over the last 50 years, mostly for the better, but we should also look forward to the next 50 years as a city – we must ensure that the outward looking and vibrant city we have become continues to develop its links to the rest of the world so the World sees us as a place to live, study, holiday and to do business. We must all come together to forge the next chapters of the history of our great city.’

Diolch. Swansea: 50 years a city. This morning, I was in Tabernacle Chapel in Morriston celebrating, in the presence of the Prince of Wales, the fiftieth anniversary of Swansea being made a city. Fifty years to today, and two days after his investiture, the Prince of Wales, on his tour of Wales, he visited Swansea. On the steps of the Guildhall he announced that Swansea was going to be designated a city. Swansea was the second Welsh town to be granted city status, although it had to wait until 15 December before it formally received its letters patent from the Queen.153

On that day, the Prince of Wales made a return journey to the new city to grant the charter to the people and the civic dignitaries of Swansea at the Brangwyn Hall. Two immediate changes occurred: at the first opportunity, Swansea Town Football Club changed its name to Swansea City; the mayor of Swansea became lord mayor, joining 23 English cities and Cardiff in Wales in being able to use the title 'lord mayor'.154

Earlier this year I was pleased to attend the council's launch of its fiftieth anniversary of Swansea becoming a city, and a lot has been done in the city to celebrate that major achievement. And it's had a mindset change: we're no longer an 'ugly, lovely town' but now an outward-looking and vibrant city.