As part of our programme on the history and heritage of science, engineering and technology, since 2022, SWIEET has sponsored two prizes for the Welsh Heritage Schools Initiative (WHSI) in the Primary and Junior Schools category;
1, The William Menelaus Prize for the best project that focuses on an aspect of the industrial heritage of Wales, or historical individuals or groups involved in Welsh industrial development. This prize (£500) was won by Ysgol Penrhyncoch, Ceredigion. Their project titled ‘Mining’ covered a spectrum of activities including a visit to Llywernog Zinc Mine, investigations of coal mining and disasters, and literary representations, reading ‘Cwmwl dros y Cwm’ by Gareth Williams about Senghennydd 1913. Brian Davies who has written on mining visited the school to talk to the pupils.
2, The Gwyn Griffiths Prize for the best project that has a focus on ‘green issues’ and highlights environmental and improvement issues of a locality with a former industrial background. Again, a £500 prize for work on environmental issues was awarded, which was won by Ysgol Wirfoddol Penboyr, Carmarthenshire. Their project titled ‘Come back in a time machine to the Second World War’ involved the whole school in environmental, health and well-being issues, and included a VE street part in costume from the Carmarthenshire Museum and lessons in swing.
The WHSI celebrates 35 years this year, and the prize giving took over the National Waterfront Museum on Friday 4th July. See https://www.whsi.org.uk/news for further details. At the museum John and Stephen also had the opportunity to meet and talk to Dr Nicole Deufel, who took up the post as the Head of National Waterfront Museum in February.
