NHS founder celebrated on Bevan Day

Unite Wales is inviting people to head to Tredegar on Sunday 7th July and join them in celebrating Aneurin “Nye” Bevan and the National Health Service.

Bevan Day is an annual free event organised by Tredegar Town Council and supported by Unite. It is a packed day that features a banner march through the town as well as live music in the bandstand, stalls and displays by local associations and charities and plenty of activities throughout the day.

Nye was born in Tredegar and built the NHS on the back of his experiences of coming from a working-class background as a miner, then a union official where he saw the need for health care for all.

He experienced first-hand how healthcare for all could be accomplished when Chairperson of the Tredegar Medical Aid society, one of many across the UK created by workers for the masses – the blueprint for the people’s NHS – built from and by the working class.

Unite Wales community coordinator and acting political officer, Mark “Pasty” Turner said, “Bevan Day celebrates his life and accomplishments. It reminds people how our NHS was built, and why we must continue to fight for it!”

“Bring your banners, listen to the speakers and join hundreds of fellow trade unionists and local residents for a fantastic day out in the birthplace of the NHS.”

The Trade Unions Banner parade will be led by Tredegar Town Band and starts from Nye’s family home, in Charles Street and finishes at the Bandstand in Bedwellty Park where speeches will be held.

Along with Pasty this year speakers will include Unite regional health officer, Paul Seppman and TUC general secretary Paul Nowak. 

For more details go to the Bevan Festival page on Facebook

By Keith Hatch