SOUTH WEST WALES was well-represented at a St David’s Day reception in Downing Street this week.
A celebration of Welsh culture, food, wine and of course people took place at No10 for a special reception to mark St David’s Day and to celebrate the huge contribution Wales makes to the UK and the world.
Representatives from business, the arts, the UK Armed Forces and sports world all attended the event, which had a particular focus on community heroes and inspirational charity fundraisers.
Guests included Llanelli couple Sherilyn and Anthony Hamilton- Shaw, who were given a Welsh Point of Light Award for their work in founding Cariad, a charity which has led communities to install over 200 defibrillators across Wales.
They work in partnership with the Mid and West Fire & Rescue Service and Welsh Ambulance Service, and lead a team of 15 other volunteers to speak to communities and schools about the importance of defibrillators.
Other inspirational Welsh Point of Light winners at the No10 event included: Lara Stevens from Dinas Powys who the PM presented with a Point of Light Award – which recognises outstanding individual volunteers, people who are making a change in their community and inspiring others.
Lara, who had cancer as a child, was inspired by a talk from the Teenage Cancer Trust and has raised over £85,000 for the charity, as well as setting up a local youth committee to inspire others to raise money. In its first year Lara led the group to raise £40,000.
Other prominent Welsh guests included the actor Griff Rhys-Jones and the actress and singer Connie Fisher.
The reception showcased the great Welsh culture and industry, with a menu comprising of local dishes and products including a selection of cheeses from a cooperative of 20 organic farms in Pembrokeshire. Local food producers represented at the reception included Tan y Castell, Calon Wen and Nomnom,
Speaking at the event, the Prime Minister said: “There has never been a better time to celebrate St. David’s Day. There are so many great things about Wales we can be proud of this year. Wales is gaining an international reputation for innovation, manufacturing and research.
The Rough Guides have put Wales in their top 10 countries to visit in the world. And, in the past couple of years, Wales has produced world champions and gold medallists in cycling, swimming, gymnastics, boxing and taekwondo as well as hosting major events, like the Ryder Cup, Rugby World Cup and Ashes Test cricket.
“What better way to celebrate this day than with some amazing Welsh heroes such as the winners of the Points of Light Awards who have joined us along with people who have done extraordinary things in their communities and professions.
“So today we celebrate St David, we celebrate all that’s great about Wales, their historic past, influential present and the continued success of Wales’s future”.
Speaking before the event, Sherilyn and Anthony said: “We are extremely honoured to be invited to No.10 to celebrate St David’s Day with David Cameron and such inspirational and wonderful people.
Never did we dream that something so life-changing for ourselves would go on and grow to touch so many, many others by putting defibrillators into public places, training the public how to use them and ensuring they are continually maintained.
We are very humbled to have been recognised in this way, we are extremely passionate about our cause and will continue to bring awareness surrounding cardiac arrest. Also, seeing as it’s our Patron Saint’s day, maybe I can teach Mr Cameron a bit of our national anthem!”
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