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NHS 70: Aneurin Bevan Day celebrations in Tredegar NHS 70: Aneurin Bevan Day celebrations in Tredegar
(about 1 hour later)
Hundreds of people have descended on the hometown of Aneurin Bevan to mark 70 years since he founded the NHS.Hundreds of people have descended on the hometown of Aneurin Bevan to mark 70 years since he founded the NHS.
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and First Minister Carwyn Jones are addressing Sunday's event at Bedwellty Park in Tredegar, Blaenau Gwent. Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and First Minister Carwyn Jones attended Sunday's event at Bedwellty Park in Tredegar, Blaenau Gwent.
Aneurin Bevan Day began with a banner parade from his former home on Charles Street involving about 200 people.Aneurin Bevan Day began with a banner parade from his former home on Charles Street involving about 200 people.
Bevan, the architect of the NHS as minister of health in 1948, was born and brought up in Tredegar.Bevan, the architect of the NHS as minister of health in 1948, was born and brought up in Tredegar.
He was inspired by a late Victorian system that saw local miners and steel workers paying subscriptions every week to be covered for medical and hospital expenses.He was inspired by a late Victorian system that saw local miners and steel workers paying subscriptions every week to be covered for medical and hospital expenses.
It spread to involve almost the whole town - and to include dental treatment, visits by a district nurse and even access to a physiotherapist.It spread to involve almost the whole town - and to include dental treatment, visits by a district nurse and even access to a physiotherapist.
It was so successful that by the early 1930s more than 20,000 people were members of the Tredegar Workmen's Medical Aid Society.It was so successful that by the early 1930s more than 20,000 people were members of the Tredegar Workmen's Medical Aid Society.
Bevan said in 1947: "All I am doing is extending to the entire population of Britain the benefits we had in Tredegar for a generation or more. We are going to Tredegar-ise you."Bevan said in 1947: "All I am doing is extending to the entire population of Britain the benefits we had in Tredegar for a generation or more. We are going to Tredegar-ise you."
Organised by the town council, Bevan Day will also include Tredegar Comprehensive School pupils performing music and school oration and debating competitions.Organised by the town council, Bevan Day will also include Tredegar Comprehensive School pupils performing music and school oration and debating competitions.
At 15:00 Tredegar Town Band will play in the bandstand and a commemorative miner's lamp will be lit before Mr Bevan's great niece Nygaire Bevan takes it to Westminster via the Miners' Mural at Llandough Hospital in the Vale of Glamorgan.At 15:00 Tredegar Town Band will play in the bandstand and a commemorative miner's lamp will be lit before Mr Bevan's great niece Nygaire Bevan takes it to Westminster via the Miners' Mural at Llandough Hospital in the Vale of Glamorgan.
Other speakers expected at the event are Welsh Labour deputy leader Carolyn Harris, Health Secretary Vaughan Gething and shadow health secretary Jon Ashworth. Mr Corbyn addressed the crowd as did other senior politicians including the first minister.
Carwyn Jones praised the NHS as a "Tredegar invention, a Welsh invention, rolled out across the UK".
Aneurin Bevan was born at 32 Charles Street, Tredegar, on 15 November 1897.Aneurin Bevan was born at 32 Charles Street, Tredegar, on 15 November 1897.
His father was a miner and he was one of 10 children.His father was a miner and he was one of 10 children.
He struggled at school and left at 13 to begin working in a local colliery before becoming a union activist and winning a scholarship to study in London.He struggled at school and left at 13 to begin working in a local colliery before becoming a union activist and winning a scholarship to study in London.
During the 1926 General Strike, he emerged as one of the leaders of the south Wales miners.During the 1926 General Strike, he emerged as one of the leaders of the south Wales miners.
In 1929, he was elected as the Labour MP for Ebbw Vale - which included Tredegar - and in 1934 married another Labour MP, Jennie Lee.In 1929, he was elected as the Labour MP for Ebbw Vale - which included Tredegar - and in 1934 married another Labour MP, Jennie Lee.
After the landslide Labour victory in the 1945 general election, Bevan was appointed minister of health, responsible for establishing the National Health Service.After the landslide Labour victory in the 1945 general election, Bevan was appointed minister of health, responsible for establishing the National Health Service.
In 1951 he resigned from the government in protest at the introduction of prescription charges for dental care and spectacles.In 1951 he resigned from the government in protest at the introduction of prescription charges for dental care and spectacles.
He died from cancer on 6 July 1960, aged 62.He died from cancer on 6 July 1960, aged 62.
His ashes were scattered on the hills above Tredegar, and it was here that the Bevan Memorial Stones were unveiled by Michael Foot in 1972.His ashes were scattered on the hills above Tredegar, and it was here that the Bevan Memorial Stones were unveiled by Michael Foot in 1972.
Rita Hale, 96, from Tredegar, said she had heard Bevan speak when she was young girl. She recalled him wearing a black cloak and a four cornered hat.
"I wish there were a few more like him today," she said.