Afan Valley Miners Museum hits rich cash seam - press release for Welsh Assembly

Many of the volunteers at the South Wales Miners Museum know just what it feels like to strike a rich seam.

Today, they are celebrating striking into a substantial vein of cash – thanks to a grant from the Welsh Assembly Government.

A grand total of £91,338.25 has made "an immense difference" to the popular attraction, according to South Wales Miners Museum secretary Mair Boast.

"It really has turned our world around and made a huge difference to a museum which plays such a vital role in telling the story of mining in the South Wales Valleys."

The cash came from CFAP – the Welsh Assembly Government Community Facilities and Activities Programme.

It enabled the museum to move from old Portakabins behind the Afan Valley Visitor Centre in Cynonville to a purpose-built extension at the park.

"There was something temporary about our old surroundings," said Mrs Boast. "Now, we have a feeling of permanence. This is a worthy home for a museum which tells a significant story.

"It is a museum with something for everyone – young and old. We find some of our older visitors come along and bring memorabilia with them to donate as exhibits to the museum.

"Younger visitors are fascinated by the way mining used to be carried out right here in the valley.

"We tell the story as a day in the life of a miner. When youngsters walk in we show them how miners collected their lamps and hard hats and moved to the cage to sink into the body of the mine.

"Then we take them through the ages, with full scale displays which show the conditions boys as young as eight used to work in – deep in the earth in dark and cramped and dangerous surroundings.

"We've even got our own 'pit pony' on display as you travel through the museum seeing how mining developed over the years from hacking away at the coal face with brute force to using mechanical devices and controlled detonations."

"Children are particularly fascinated with the conditions underground," added museum volunteer Colin Day.

"There is an audio facility which gives a running commentary as you travel around the museum, but the volunteers here are always on hand to give that personal touch and explain the background to many of our exhibits.

"Most of us are former miners and can speak with first-hand knowledge about working underground and the hardships and dangers miners faced every day of their working lives."

Mrs Boast said:" Above all, it is important that we put into context what this area – our home – is all about.

"Yes, we may now be officially classed as an area of deprivation. But it is important that we recognise and remember the days when the valleys could boast fuller employment and were thriving places with mines often around every turn.

"The mining industry played a massive part in the shaping of Wales and it is important that museums like ours – and the Big Pit attraction – tell the story in as informative and as entertaining way as possible.

"Visitors to the South Wales Miners Museum will not be disappointed and thanks to that £91,338.25 ( and don't forget that 25p!) we now have much more to offer as an attraction.

"The Welsh Assembly Government cash has made an immense difference to the museum. It has completely changed the attraction. The museum focuses on the past, but the cash has been an investment for our future and we are very grateful to the Assembly for their help."

Notes for editors:

CFAP - The Community Facilities and Activities Programme is a grant scheme operated by the Welsh Assembly Government to help community or voluntary organisations provide facilities or carry out activities which will promote the regeneration of communities. Since its launch in 2002 CFAP has proved to be a highly successful grant programme. A total of £64 million has been awarded to 660 projects across the length and breadth of Wales.

Projects have included the refurbishment of church and village halls, work to make community properties accessible to the disabled, buying part of a former airfield for community use and restoring historic buildings for community use.

The CFAP is run from The Welsh Assembly Government's Merthyr Tydfil office - Communities Facilities and Activities Programme (CFAP), Communities Directorate, Welsh Assembly Government, Merthyr Tydfil Office, Rhydycar, Merthyr Tydfil, CF48 1UZ

Further information is available from the following case officers who handle the areas listed -

For further information, follow-up pictures and interviews, you can contact the the South Wales Miners Museum secretary Mrs Mair Boast on 01639 850553.

Weblink:

http://www.southwalesminersmuseum.com

Proud of their plaque: Pictured at the tablet in the entrance foyer which marks the reopening of the museum are (left to right) – Bryn Jones, Jack Radmore, Elwyn Walters, Derek Woodhouse, Colin Day and Mair Boast.

Press release issued by Robert Lloyd on behalf of the Welsh Assembly Government.

Contact: Robert Lloyd, 84 New Road, Llanelli, SA15 3DT, telephone 01554 757600 or 07777 683637 (mobile). Email: rlloydpr@btinternet.com