Five ‘hidden heroines’ to be celebrated at Pembrokeshire’s new heritage centre

Published

10 months ago

February 24, 2025

When it comes to fighting for their nation – be it politically, culturally, socially and ethically – the women of Wales have proven themselves invincible.

Yet despite their significant achievements, Wales’ heroines have remained largely hidden, and their stories forgotten.

Now, thanks to the commitment of the ‘Monumental Welsh Women’, five influential females have finally been acknowledged following commissions to erect public statues in their honour.

“Despite what so many women have done and achieved in Wales, there wasn’t one single public statue commemorating their achievements,” said Pembrokeshire historian Angela John, who has been one of the Monumental Welsh Women who has campaigned for their recognition for the last eight years.

“There has been a complete lack of visibility.”

Later this week, Angela will be giving a talk in her home town of Newport, Pembrokeshire, on the five women selected.

The first was Betty Campbell, a black woman of poor parentage who was told at school that the problems for a working class black girl would be ‘insurmountable’. Despite this stark statement, Campbell won a place as one of the first female students to study at the Cardiff Teacher Training College where she enrolled whilst the mother of three young children. She taught at Butetown, Cardiff, for 28 years where, as a black teacher, she experienced some hostility from parents. In the 1970s, she became Wales’ first black head teacher at Mount Stuart where she began teaching children about slavery, black history and the system of apartheid.

“Betty Campbell was a huge influence in Wales who won the poll for the first statue which was unveiled in Central Square, Cardiff in 2021,” explained Angela John.

The following year saw the arrival of Mountain Ash’s Elaine Morgan, born into a poor mining family but who won a scholarship to study at Oxford.

Following her graduation she taught for three years with the Workers’ Educational Association and began writing plays to help make ends meet. She then began making an impact in the male-dominated world of the small screen with her first television scripts accepted before she even owned her own TV set. Elaine Morgan went on to become a top TV writer, a feminist icon and a ground-breaking evolutionary theorist, winning a host of awards and scripting some of the best loved dramas in television, including ‘How Green Was My Valley’, and ‘The Life and Times of Lloyd George’.

The Elaine Morgan statue is located in Oxford Street, Mountain Ash.

In 2023, Ceredigion celebrated the arrival of Llangrannog’s Sarah Jane Rees, better known by her bardic name of Cranogwen.

Her first claim to fame was as a master mariner and for two years she worked as a sailor on cargo ships between Wales and France before returning to London and Liverpool to further her nautical education. She gained her master mariner’s certificate – a qualification that allowed her to command a ship in any part of the world. Back in West Wales, overcoming opposition to the appointment of a woman, she became a head-teacher at 21, educating the children of the village, and also taught navigation and seamanship to local young men. Many men who would later go on to sail and captain ships across the world’s oceans were trained by Sarah Jane Rees.

Cranogwen, with members of the Monumental Welsh Women

In 1865 her writing skills turned her into an instant Welsh celebrity as she became the first woman to win a poetry prize at the National Eisteddfod, beating some of the major male Welsh poets of the day. Her winning poem – Y Fodrwy Briodasal (The Wedding Ring) – was a satire on the married woman’s destiny, using the wedding ring as a recurring symbol.

At a time when public speaking by women was frowned upon, Cranogwen embarked on a career as a lecturer, Temperance campaigner and a preacher, travelling across America twice, and often facing opposition from male preachers when she took to the pulpit.

Her statue is situated in the centre of Llangrannog, close to the church, where she was buried.

The fourth statue, erected in 2024, is that of the iconic Lady Rhondda (Margaret Haig Thomas), a suffragette who made the fight for the women’s vote front page news.

She brought Emmeline Pankhurst to Wales and confronted the anti-suffrage Prime Minister Asquith by jumping on his car. She also set fire to a post box and was sent to prison, where she went on hunger strike while during the First World War she ensured women played a vital role, recruiting them into the women’s services. She became Commissioner for Wales in the Women’s National Service Department, then Chief Controller of women’s recruitment at the Ministry of National Service in London.

She went on to become the greatest global business woman of her era and sat on the board of no fewer than 33 companies, and chaired seven of them. She oversaw an industrial empire of mines, shipping and newspapers and became the first, and to date, the only female, to be President of the Institute of Directors.

The fifth and final statue, which be unveiled later this year,is in honour of Elizabeth Andrews who was a great social reformer and campaigner for women’s rights.

She was one of the most influential Welsh female political activists of the early 20th century, being an internationalist, a suffragist and a socialist. Forced to leave school at 13 to help her parents make ends meet, the Welsh-speaking dressmaker brought the needs of working-class women into the political arena because she shared their lives and voiced their hopes and fears.

She became the first Labour Party Women’s Organiser for Wales and set up women’s sections, describing them as ‘working women’s universities.’ One of her earliest tasks was translating leaflets from English to Welsh to urge women to use their newly-won vote. She also became one of Britain’s first female magistrates and put the needs of women and children at the heart of her campaigns.

“Whittling our original list of 50 down to just five has been difficult, as there have been so many incredible women here in Wales who have achieved so many significant things for their nation,” concluded Angela John.

“But throughout our campaign, the support we’ve had has been tremendous with regular features on the media and support from the Welsh government who decided to give us £20,000 funding towards the cost of each statue, with each one costing around £100,000 to produce.

“We’ve also seen a huge public interaction, particularly with the number of school children who’ve been involved.

“This shows the enormous changes in the ways in which people are now relating to Welsh history. Previously, it was taught around kings and queens, their battles and all their relevant dates, while now there’s far more attention being given to race and social issues, so history is no longer such an elite subject but is there for everybody. The fabric of everyday life has become as much a part of people’s understanding of history as anything else.

“And each our five statues have gone a long way in helping to address this.”

Angela John will be speaking at Bethlehem Chapel, Newport, Pembrokeshire this Wednesday, February 26, at 7pm.

Crime

Emergency bags rolled out to support domestic abuse victims across Dyfed-Powys

Published

17 hours ago

December 19, 2025

Tom Sinclair

Thirty packs provide immediate help for families fleeing dangerous situations

A NEW initiative aimed at supporting victims of domestic abuse has seen thirty emergency bags distributed for use across the Dyfed-Powys Police area.

The bags, which contain essential items including toiletries, non-perishable snacks and emergency supplies, are designed to offer immediate practical support to individuals and families forced to flee abusive situations, often with little or nothing.

The scheme forms part of the Police and Crime Commissioner’s wider commitment to improving outcomes for victims and is being delivered in partnership with Dyfed-Powys Police and Dal i Godi, the commissioned Independent Domestic Violence Adviser (IDVA) service.

Dal i Godi provides specialist support to victims at high risk of serious harm, including safety planning and advocacy through the criminal justice process.

Police and Crime Commissioner Dafydd Llywelyn said the initiative was already proving its value.

“This is an incredible initiative that I’m proud to support,” he said. “It provides meaningful help to those experiencing trauma and reflects our ongoing work to put victims first.

“Within just a few days of the bags being distributed to the Dal i Godi service, one was given to a victim fleeing a domestic abuse situation, along with a children’s pack to support their young family. That shows just how essential this support can be and how quickly it can make a difference.”

Detective Chief Inspector Llyr Williams, from the Dyfed-Powys Police Vulnerability Hub, said the emergency bags could provide a vital lifeline at critical moments.

“These emergency bags offer support at some of the most difficult moments in a person’s life,” he said.

“The contents provide immediate comfort, dignity and practical help for those leaving their homes in crisis. While simple, they represent an important first step towards safety and recovery.

“We are proud to be working with partners across the Dyfed-Powys area to ensure this support reaches people when they need it most.”

Anyone experiencing domestic abuse, or concerned about someone else, is encouraged to seek help. In an emergency, call 999.

Domestic abuse can also be reported online via Dyfed-Powys Police.

Support services available include Victim Support Dyfed-Powys, which offers free and confidential help to anyone affected by crime, whether or not it has been reported, and Dal i Godi, which provides specialist IDVA support for high-risk victims.

The Live Fear Free Helpline offers 24-hour support for those experiencing domestic abuse or sexual violence across Wales.

If you or someone you know is a victim of domestic abuse, please consider reporting it. If you are in danger or need support right away, please call 999.

You can report domestic abuse through the online crime reporting service here: Report domestic abuse | Dyfed-Powys Police.

Support is also available via the below support services:

Victim Support Dyfed-Powys

Free, independent support for anyone affected by crime in the Dyfed-Powys area, whether or not it has been reported to the police.

0300 123 2996

Victim Support Dyfed-Powys

Dal i Godi (IDVA Service)

Specialist support for victims of domestic abuse at high risk, offering safety planning, emotional support, and advocacy with agencies such as police and courts.

01267 221194

Dal i Godi

Live Fear Free Helpline

24/7 support for anyone experiencing domestic abuse or sexual violence.

0808 80 10 800 | Text 07860 077333

[email protected]

News

Welsh-language school praised for ‘happy, proud and friendly community’

Published

18 hours ago

December 19, 2025

Tom Sinclair

Estyn highlights strong leadership, positive attitudes and a clear curriculum vision at Ysgol Bro Preseli

A WELSH-medium all-age school in Crymych has been praised by inspectors for fostering a “happy, proud and friendly community,” according to a recent Estyn report.

Inspectors said pupils at Ysgol Bro Preseli show pride in their local area, thrive both academically and socially, and are well prepared for the next stages of their learning.

The school currently has 932 pupils on roll, including 118 in the sixth form, and has operated as an all-age school since 2022.

Estyn found that most pupils demonstrate extremely positive attitudes to learning, treat staff with respect, and listen carefully to the contributions of their peers.

The report also notes that, in almost all cases, teachers show strong subject knowledge. Inspectors highlighted the close and supportive relationships staff build with pupils, alongside the creation of a safe learning environment where pupils are not afraid to make mistakes.

It states: “As a result of a clear strategic direction and detailed planning, teachers provide beneficial practical activities that allow pupils to develop purposeful oracy, reading and writing skills in language sessions and across the other areas of learning and experience.”

Inspectors also praised the school’s clear curriculum vision, rooted in its motto Gwreiddiau a Gorwelion (Roots and Horizons).

“Leaders and teachers provide a coherent curriculum and learning experiences that bridge the primary and secondary sectors effectively,” the report said. “Staff plan stimulating activities and experiences for pupils to learn and deepen their understanding within the areas of learning and experience. This contributes positively to the sense of belonging that permeates the whole curriculum of Ysgol Bro Preseli.”

Headteacher Rhonwen Morris said the report was a reflection of the collective effort across the school community.

“As a successful all-age Welsh-medium school, we are delighted that the report recognises our commitment to excellence and the unique identity that makes Ysgol Bro Preseli so special,” she said.

“Since becoming an all-age school in 2022, our cohesive leadership team and governing body have focused on building a strong foundation based on our values of Welsh ethos, kindness, community and responsibility.

“The report highlights the excellent strategic work of staff at all levels, which is a testament to the shared dedication and vision that drives our school forward.

“It is gratifying that the report reflects what we continuously aim to achieve day in and day out. This achievement belongs to our entire community — staff, pupils, parents and governors — and together we will continue to build on this success and provide the very best education for every pupil.”

Charity

Welsh opticians raise £1,600 for people experiencing homelessness

Published

18 hours ago

December 19, 2025

Tom Sinclair

SPECSAVERS Pembroke Dock has helped raise £1,600 to support people experiencing homelessness this winter, with all funds going to The Wallich’s winter appeal.

Thirteen stores from North, South and West Wales donated £1 for every customer feedback form completed during November to help The Wallich, Wales’ largest homelessness and rough sleeping charity, continue its vital work.

Supporting more than 8,000 people experiencing or at risk of homelessness across the nation each year, The Wallich runs around 100 diverse projects across 20 local authorities to provide hope, support and solutions to end homelessness.

Funds raised by Specsavers will go directly to the Wallich’s Flexible Assistance Fund, which provides small but vital emergency grants. The grants support people at crucial turning points, helping cover essential costs such as phone credit, rent or food shops.

This initiative is a continuation of Specsavers’ wider homelessness programme, which sees over a hundred Specsavers stores and Home Visits services hold out-of-hours or pop-up clinics and invite people affected by forms of homelessness to use their services for free.

Specsavers’ North Wales regional relationship manager, Martin Lawrence, who helped organise the fundraiser, says: ‘We’re really proud to be supporting The Wallich’s winter appeal at a time when support is needed most.

‘Homelessness affects people in every community and as locally owned and run businesses, Specsavers stores are committed to raising awareness of the issue and supporting people through their toughest moments.

‘We’re excited to build on the success of this fundraiser and strengthen our partnership with The Wallich in the new year.’

Louisa Turner, head of fundraising at The Wallich, adds: ‘Winter can be an incredibly difficult time for people experiencing homelessness and this support from Specsavers will make a real difference.

‘The funds raised will help provide emergency grants at critical moments – whether that’s putting food on the table, helping someone stay connected with their loved ones or preventing someone from losing a safe place to live.

‘This kind of support creates vital turning points and helps people move towards a safer, more secure future.’

Specsavers works year-round with homelessness charities including Crisis, Vision Care and The Big Issue, to improve access to healthcare and advocate for policy change – ensuring people experiencing homelessness can receive free eye tests, glasses and hearing checks.