Walter Conway may be a familiar name to the residents of Tredegar in Blaenau Gwent but outside of this valley town he is lesser known. However, a series of events this week aims to change this.
A mural has been painted on the town’s shopping centre where a beautiful portrait of Walter Conway is surrounded by images of locations that were important to him. These include Pochin No.1 Pit where he worked underground, Park Place Presbyterian Church where he was a deacon and teacher, Tredegar Medical Aid Offices and the Central Surgery.
Artist Paul Sheppard (Walls by Paul) said, ‘This is the fourth I’ve painted in this series. I have learned so much about all of the characters and each have been remarkable in their own right. It was fascinating to find out the role Walter played in the health and well being of Tredegar and the UK.
A Blue Plaque was unveiled on 1 Rawlinson Terrace, Tredegar, the home where Walter spent most of his married life with his family. The Plaque was unveiled by Jeremy Miles, Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care and Walter’s Great Grand Daughters, Julie Watkin and Alyson Nutland.
Walter was born in Rhymney and had a younger brother. Sadly both his parents died at a young age leaving Walter and his brother in the care of the Board of Guardians at Bedwellty Workhouse. Here he developed his love of books, that he often referred to as his best friend and was taught to ‘do everything well’, a mantra that stayed with him throughout his life.
After leaving the workhouse, he moved into ‘digs’ and became a coal miner at Pochin No. 1 Pit. Walter married Mary Elizabeth Morgan in 1898 and the couple had 3 daughters and a son. The family worshiped at Park Place Presbyterian Church where Walter was a Deacon and Sunday School Teacher.
In 1908 he was elected to the Bedwellty Board of Guardians, the organisation that was responsible for his early care in the workhouse. Walter was an early member of the Independent Labour Party, initially joining and later becoming an inaugural member of the Tredegar branch in 1911. Walter was also a mentor to the young Aneurin Bevan. In 1920 Walter, his friends, including a young Aneurin Bevan, formed the Query Club, which was a socialist debating society.
Most of all he is remembered as secretary to the Tredegar Workmen’s Medical Aid Society, He was appointed in 1915 and over the next 18 years it grew under his stewardship into one of the best societies, attracting membership from a wider area. The Tredegar Workmen’s Medical Aid Society provided medical services to 20,000 local people, about 95% of the population of the town. The society operated surgeries which employed 5 doctors, 2 dentists, nurses and support staff.
On his passing the local MP said that Walter was ‘the embodiment of truth and integrity and of all that was good in the life of Tredegar.’
Councillor John C Morgan – Cabinet Member – Place and Regeneration and Economic Development, said:
“Walter Conway was a legend in this town, he is fondly remembered to this day. When Bevan put in place the largest house building program in the UK following WWII, the local council named a street in his honour – Walter Conway Avenue. More recently Blaenau Gwent Council have placed a figure bench in the circle overlooking the offices of the Medical Aid Society but now we are formally commemorating his place in history with this Blue Plaque and a stunning mural in the town centre. We hope that this not only commemorates his achievements but encourages new generations to explore his achievements and gives them the inspiration to follow their dreams. Finally, I would like to thank our Paul for the remarkable mural that he has created in the town centre and to Marcus and Hayley, for allowing us to place this Blue Plaque on their home”.
Julie Watkin and Alyson Nutland, Great Grand Daughters said:
“Orphaned as a boy, Walter was placed in Bedwellty Workhouse where he acquired his love of books and thirst for knowledge. In later life he would still refer to himself as a workhouse boy. As secretary of Tredegar Medical Aid Society he was “dedicated to the Society’s work” and “the embodiment of all that was good in the life of Tredegar”. TMAS is now widely acknowledged as the source of many of the novel and radical ideas of universal health care that would evolve into the NHS some fifteen years after his untimely death”.
Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care, Jeremy Miles said:
“It is an honour to mark the contribution Walter Conway made to public health in Tredegar and his role in the history of our NHS. I am pleased to see his achievements celebrated today. He was an outstanding health administrator who helped the Tredegar Medical Aid Society to succeed, inspiring Bevan and countless future generations”.
The mural and the plaque were supported by the UK Government’s Shared Prosperity Fund. Visitors to Tredegar should also visit The Tredegar Museum in Tredegar Library and the Tredegar Workmen’s Medical Aid Society Heritage Centre. Both are located in The Circle, the heritage heart of the town.
