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For the past few years, readers of the Barry Gem have enjoyed Dr
Jonathan Hicks' articles on the role of Barrians in The Great Wars of
the 20th Century, as well as his work during the restoration of the
Hall of Remembrance, culminating in the "Barry an the Great
War" exhibitions in November 2007 and 2008.
I am grateful that he has allowed his work to be published here.
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VALE HERITAGE CENTRE COALITION LAUNCHED
A group formed to convince the Vale Council of the merits of a
Vale Heritage Centre was officially launched this week.
The Vale Heritage Centre Coalition has been formed by local
historians Dr Jonathan Hicks, Aldon Grisdale, Andy Hinton, Glenn
Booker, John Chucas, Howard Thomas, Alun Robertson and Brian Luxton.
In partnership with the 'Barry,
Wales' website owner Steve Williams, Ade Pitman who runs the 'World
at War' website, Paul Haley of 'Pride
in Barry' and David Simpson of the 'Barry
Merchant Seamen' website, the group has met several times since
Christmas to discuss how to ensure that the history of the Vale of
Glamorgan is preserved.
The group's mission statement states: 'We believe that the Vale of
Glamorgan has a rich, varied and important history that should be
preserved for posterity and displayed in an appropriate venue for the
benefit and education of local people and visitors'.
To this end, the group is calling for the space set aside in the
planning application submitted by the Barry Waterfront Consortium for
community use to be dedicated to the construction of a Vale Heritage
Centre. This building would contain static displays on the history of
the Vale plus exhibition space for material brought in for a special commemoration.
Ade Pitman said; "Generations of people have grown up without
knowing any of their local history, and as Barry and the Vale even
more become a suburb of Cardiff, if we miss this opportunity people
may never know the history of the area. The Heritage Centre should
tell the story of the Vale from pre-history to the present day. It
should feature interactive exhibits and not simply be a dusty room
full of pictures. It should attract, entertain and educate."
The group has contacted local history societies across the Vale and
they have pledged their support for the venture.
"As a teacher, I firmly believe in education," said
Dr Hicks, "and what better place to start the teaching of
history in our schools than in the history that lies all around us.
We would start with the dinosaur footprints and fossils to be found
on Lavernock beach, to the ancient burial chambers like Tinkinswood,
on through the Viking raids, the building of the medieval castles in
the area, the Battle at St Fagans, the smugglers, the growth of the
docks at Penarth and Barry, the history of the Barry Railway Company,
to the development of St Athan airfield, the story of the Great War
and WW2, the growth of tourism and industry. The list is endless.
"Each town and village in the Vale would be represented in
the building and as the facility grew we would envisage a two-way
process where artefacts and information are lent out to towns such as
Llantwit and Cowbridge so that events could be staged around them.
"This could be a vibrant, community hub, as well as a tourist
attraction. It could also serve as a Tourist Information Centre and
by liaising with the local sailing clubs, sea cadets and sea scouts
it would emerge as a well-used multi-functional facility on the
Waterfront. This is a non-political group which is calling for
support from across the Vale to give the county a central base from
which its history can be told."
The Vale Heritage Centre Coalition will be presenting its case to
the Vale Council's Scrutiny Committee next month and urges readers
with an interest in education, history and culture to lend their
support to their cause.
10th February 2010 |
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Should you wish to support this cause, the following web
contacts may be useful -
Barry & District News : Letters and articles can be
e-mailed to barrynews@gwent-wales.co.uk
The Glamorgan Gem : Letters and articles can be submitted via
their website at http://www.barry-today.co.uk/tn/your-stories.cfm
The Western Mail and Echo : can be contacted via their website
at http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/send-a-story-video-picture/
. You can either enter a contribution directly or attach pre-prepared documents. |
MEMORIES OF WARTIME SERVICE WANTED
Did you serve in the Armed Forces during the last century? If so,
then local historian Dr Jonathan Hicks would like to hear from you.
November 2008 Exhibition
The 'Barry at War' 2008 Exhibition commemorated the role that
Barrians played in the conflicts of the last century. Following on
from last November's hugely successful exhibition on 'Barry and the
Great War', Dr Hicks and his team of volunteers staged a
much-expanded display of artefacts, memorabilia and photographs in
the Main Hall of Barry Memorial Hall on Saturday, 22nd November 2008.
'More than 11 re-enactment groups pledged their support for our
worthy cause,' said Dr Hicks. 'They staged displays during the
day covering the roles that Britain, America and Germany played in
the First and Second World Wars. There was also a display of military
vehicles in the car park.'
'Members of the Western Front Association were displaying items
from the Great War and the Second World War from their own personal
collections. Experts from the South Wales Militaria Society were
running a Militaria 'Antiques Roadshow' and members of the public
were invited to bring along Militaria items to have them assessed and
valued. There was a display on the Island Farm Prisoner of War Camp,
on the role that the Merchant Seamen of Barry played in the two World
Wars and refreshments were provided in our own version of a NAAFI
Canteen run by the PTFA from St Cyres School.'
Wartime Memories
Dr Hicks would like to receive further wartime memories, so if you
served in the Second World War, Korea, Malaya, Suez, the Falklands,
the Gulf War or any other conflict of the last century in any branch
of service, please send your accounts or photographs to ninian27@btinternet.com
Dr Hicks would also like to hear from anyone who has information on
the American troops stationed in Barry during WW2.
'I am aware of a growing interest in our work from ex-servicemen
and women who all have stories to tell,' said Dr Hicks. 'I
would therefore ask readers to send me their memories and photographs
which, with their permission, can be displayed on the day for the
thousands of anticipated visitors to share. Until such time as we
have a museum of our own in Barry this is an important way of
ensuring that Barry's history is not lost.'
Links to Articles
Barry Memorials of the Great War
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