Opening of Bryn Awel primary school

This morning I attended the official opening of the new Bryn Awel primary school – which replaces the old Lower Rhymney school. Although the school has been open for business for a year, the opening had been delayed because of the sad loss over the last year of two of Rhymney’s finest citizens.

The late Councillor Selwyn Lewis, and John Smith who was chair of governors at the school, worked unstintingly for Rhymney for many years. I was privileged to know them. Both John and Selwyn were instrumental in delivering this fantastic new learning environment for Rhymney’s children – it is so sad they were not able to see the event today.

The plaque unveiling was ably undertaken by Rhodri Morgan and we were entertained by the school choir.

John and Selwyn were Labour through and through. They represented a generation whose selflessness marked them out. They also knew that whatever the opinion polls at any given point might say, measures like the massive school buildings programme currently underway across Wales are possible only because of a Labour government – in Westminster and Cardiff. This is the fourth new build school to be opened in my constituency since I was first elected – and three more are imminent.

In fact the last time there was anything like this sort of investment in schools, I was a primary school pupil myself, and I can still remember chatting to the man who came to unveil the plaque at my new school that day in 1968 - one Harold Wilson.

In the dark days of the 80’s not one school was rebuilt in my constituency – and the ones we had were allowed to decay.

John and Selwyn knew that. I know it. More people should remember it.