National Poetry Day 2009 at Big Pit 2 November 2009 On National Poetry Day in October 2009, Big Pit’s poet-in-residence Mike Jenkins encouraged visitors to contribute to a ‘BIG Big Pit poem’. The theme of National Poetry Day was ‘Heroes and Heroines,’ and contributors wrote about the heroic people who worked in difficult conditions and jobs in coal mines.Contributions came from 3 schools: Goetre Junior School, Merthyr, Queen Street Primary School, Abertillery and Oldbury Wells High School in Shropshire. Mike awarded a signed copy of his children’s poetry book ‘Poems for Underage Thinkers’ to the junior classes for their inspired efforts.Adult poets were:Mike Tanner from Blaenavon, Justin Hamilton from Kilbirnie, Derek Edmondson from Woodford, and Mr and Mrs Gilbert from Little Witcombe, as well as Big Pit staff.Find out more about Mike’s award-winning poetry and prose by visiting his website: www.mikejenkins.net.BIG BIG PIT POEM A communal poem created at Big Pit on National Poetry Day 2009 Underground what will we see? Underground is dangerous Ponies hauled dram after dram Thrusters and hurriers pushing tram after tram Pickers hitting as hard as they can Children crying and crying. The canary was a warning. Lots of water on the ground It was leaking into the pit Getting deeper and deeper. It was dark like night when the lights went out, It was scary. Slippery like water. The cage went fast then slow. Down the pit there were tracks. Struggling by the light of lamps. The axes and sledgehammers were dirty as muddy water. Some were very old. The men were heroes because they worked twelve hard hours. The fireman who risked himself to save his workmate’s face, After a fall, threw himself down to protect his friend. The horses were heroes because they saved people. Masks protected the ponies’ faces, some of the ponies died. Seventy two worked down the mine. Many of them became blind. The miner had to pull the drams. The girls were heroines because they helped. Dad and son worked side by side Deprived of sunlight from day to day. Some men died. Some men cried. Coughing up black dust Working like navvies from dawn till dusk. Mothers sad when there was an explosion. A message home when there’s no hope left Scratched into a bottle. Day and night death always occurred. But everyone pulled together Washing away the day’s toil. A hot bath, joke and a laugh. To the hole in the wall, have a fag Desperate for that first drag. Figures hunched against the driving rain Thirsting for the hoppy nectar To soothe away the pain.
Halloween Art Cart Sian Lile-Pastore, 23 October 2009 The Art Cart will be running from Saturday 24th until Friday 30th October. Come and make something creepy! All activities free and run from 11 until 1 and 2 until 4.
Sir William Reardon Smith (1856-1935) David Jenkins, 15 October 2009 The tramp steamer Prince Rupert City, a typical Reardon Smith vessel of the inter-war years. The sail training yacht Margherita, on which Reardon Smith apprentices gained experience of seafaring under sail. Sir William Reardon Smith, Bart., 1856-1935. The Reardon Smith lecture theatre at the National Museum Cardiff, inaugurated in 1932. Most museums can acknowledge a great benefactor without whom their histories would have been very different; in the case of Amgueddfa Cymru, that person was Sir William Reardon Smith.During his terms as the Museum's treasurer (1925-28) and president (1928-32), Sir William Reardon Smith utterly transformed the Museum's faltering finances and oversaw the completion of National Museum Cardiff's splendid east wing, which forms an integral part of Cardiff's unique civic centre.Reardon Smith was not Welsh by birth; he was born to a seafaring family in the north Devon coastal village of Appledore on 7 August 1856.Cabin boyWhen Reardon Smith was 3 his father died when his schooner sank in a storm off Burry Port. Nevertheless, by the time he had reached his early teens he was a cabin boy on similar local vessels engaged in the coasting trades of the Bristol Channel. He later served on sailing ships carrying railway lines to the USA and copper ore Chile.Captain Reardon SmithAged just 22, he served as captain of a number of sailing ships and steamers, mostly owned by the famous Scottish shipping company Hugh Hogarth of Glasgow, until he left the sea in 1900 and moved to Cardiff with his wife and family.In 1905 he embarked on what would become his life's work when he promoted a company to acquire and operate a new steamship, the City of Cardiff. The venture prospered, and by the outbreak of the First World War he owned 9 tramp steamers, all working in the export of coal from south Wales.Despite a number of losses to submarines during the war, Reardon Smith continued to expand his fleet, and by 1930 he controlled no fewer than 35 ships.Sir WilliamSir William was created a baronet in 1920, and became increasingly involved in philanthropic activities. In 1921 he established the Reardon Smith Nautical School; four years later he acquired a large yacht, the Margherita, to serve both as training vessel and family yacht.He gave generously to the Cardiff Royal Infirmary and towards the cost of a new hospital at Bideford, and also endowed the chair of geography at Exeter University, which still bears his name.However, the object of his greatest generosity was the National Museum of Wales. Between 1915 and 1935 he and his wife Lady Ellen donated something in the region of £150,000.In addition to his personal donations, he also worked tirelessly to raise funds from elsewhere. In recognition, the new lecture theatre built as part of the Museum's east wing in 1932 was named the Reardon Smith Lecture Theatre.Sir William died on 23 December 1935 after a brief illness. His success as a shipowner was equalled only by his exceptional generosity. By preferring to spend his fortune on improving the lives of others rather than indulging himself, he ensured that many present-day inhabitants of both south Wales and the West Country still owe him a debt of gratitude.Article by: David Jenkins, Senior Curator of Industry
Helping Wales during the recession Michael Houlihan, 13 October 2009 This morning, along with the Minister for Heritage Alun Ffred Jones, I will be launching Amgueddfa Cymru’s latest discussion paper – A positive contribution to life in Wales during the recession. The paper is a culmination of over a year’s research, and sets out how Amgueddfa Cymru has a key role to play in supporting the Welsh economy and reaching to the core of a society that values the preservation of its unique identity.The message we want to make clear to the people of Wales is that we’re far more than just a collection of buildings and objects. Our work takes place in every corner of Wales, through our outreach collection, research and partnership work. We also offer the people of Wales an opportunity to get involved in our work. There are a number of volunteering opportunities available throughout the organisation, from work experience and work placements to volunteering and apprenticeships creating valuable openings when other doors are closing."We also want to remind people that entry is free to all of the national museums"We also want to remind people that entry is free to all of the national museums. At a time when entry charges could discriminate against those who have been most badly affected by reduced income, we offer affordable and uplifiting things to do and places to go, that people can do on their own or with their families and friends.To read the discussion paper for yourself,click here . If you have any feedback, comments, queries or ideas then we’d love to hear from you so feel free to leave a comment on this blog. Pop back here later to hear how the launch went, and for a summary of initial reactions to the paper.
