First purple plaque for amazing Welsh women
WALES’ first ever purple plaque – designed to celebrate the achievements of remarkable women – will be unveiled today.
The plaque will be in memory of former AM Val Feld, the former Labour Assembly Member for Swansea East who died in 2001.
It will be unveiled on the wall of the Senedd at a ceremony hosted by Jane Hutt AM.
Ms Hutt, along with Sue Essex and Cardiff North AM Julie Morgan, commissioned the plaque, which was funded with personal donations.
It is the first in a series of hundreds planned over the coming years. Each will be dedicated to “remarkable women in Wales”.
The plaque, which was designed and created by the Swansea-based ceramicist Anna Noel, will be unveiled by Ms Feld’s daughters Bronwen McCarthy and Hester Feld. Charity Chwarae Teg, along with a panel of advisers including Professor Deidre Beddoe, Emeritus Professor of Women’s History at the University of South Wales, will lead the project, with support from the Welsh Government Women’s Suffrage Centenary Grant. Ahead of the unveiling of the plaque, Ms Hutt said Ms Feld was a fitting first recipient. “Val was a remarkable woman. She had such an influence in the setting up of the Assembly, leading up to devolution. She was passionate about social justice and equality. “I got to know her through Shelter Cymru and then the Equal Opportunities Commission Wales but also that she always went the extra mile.
“In terms of devolution, she saw the opportunity to have equality embedded in this institution. She put herself forward, along with other women, and had worked for years so that happened.”
Ms Hutt said she hoped future plaques will honour women from all walks of life.
“This is the first but it is an initiative for the whole of Wales and it can cover all kinds of contributions that women have made – not just politics but arts, business, the environment, their communities.
“In all the official honours systems, we know there are always so many unsung heroines.
“We know women do tend to be more modest and not put themselves forward,” she said.
“It is only fitting that the first purple plaque to commemorate the achievements of remarkable women of Wales should go to Val Feld, a passionate advocate of devolution, equalities and social justice. Val was a powerful force for women and minority groups and it is only right that her legacy of integrity, passion and commitment is permanently remembered as a ‘Champion of Equality’ with this plaque on the walls of the Senedd.
“Today will be an emotional day for all of us as we remember Val with her friends and family and we are proud that we have been able to make this plaque a reality so that her remarkable achievements will be remembered by future generations.”
Ms Feld’s daughter Hester said: “We are delighted that our mum has been commemorated in this way.
“She worked hard in her life to highlight inequality and injustice and it is fitting that this plaque is the beginning of a new campaign to recognise the historical achievements of women in Wales.”
It is thought there are 250 mainly blue plaques commemorating notable figures, but the overwhelming majority highlight men’s achievements.
Last year the Assembly Labour Women’s Group wanted to increase the numbers of women recognised across the country.
The colour purple was selected for its links with the suffragette movement.