I’d like to begin by looking back over the summer and congratulating everyone who organised the Anglesey Agricultural Show for yet another successful year, as well as everyone from the Island who was successful in the Royal Welsh, Eisteddfod yr Urdd and the National Eisteddfod.
I’d also like to congratulate individuals from Anglesey that were inaugurated to the Orsedd during the Wrexham Eisteddfod, including Hywel Wyn Owen, Mared Lewis, Gwyn Anwyl, Rhun ap Iorwerth and Nia Wyn Jones. Congratulations also to Erin Fflur who won the David Ellis memorial prize, the Blue Ribband.
Secondly, I’d like to congratulate the children and young people of Anglesey on their successful GCSE, A Level and other level 2 and 3 qualification results over the summer. I’d also like to share my best wishes with those young people who will be leaving their homes and heading to university and colleges across Wales and beyond. I’m sure there were many emotional parents across the Island over the last few days!
The Council is a Corporate Parent, and I’d like to take advantage of this opportunity to congratulate our Looked After Children on their recent success with GCSE qualifications and other achievements. We are also grateful to all staff, teachers, parents and foster parents who have supported young people during their exams.
The County Council has been successful in appointing four graduates through the Dyfodol Môn scheme. The scheme gives local graduates an opportunity to complete valuable work experience as they work toward a post graduate qualification. As well as supporting graduates to develop their skills and foster careers with the Council, it also helps to plan future succession. We wish them all the best as they start their career with the Council.
A special event was held in Llangefni last weekend to welcome the Eisteddfod yr Urdd to the Island. It was a very successful event despite the weather, and we look forward to welcoming the Eisteddfod to Anglesey in 2026.
Earlier in September, the popular television series, Rownd a Rownd, celebrated 30 years since it was first broadcasted. The series, located in Menai Bridge, has attracted significant financial investment to the area over the years, and more than 100 people now work on the programme.
Congratulations to businesses on the Island that have recently won awards. Cybi Brewery and the honey production company, Anglesey Bees won stars in the Great Taste Awards, and Llanfairpwll Distillery won the best small drink producer award in the Welsh Food and Drink Awards.
On behalf of the County Council, I’d like to thank the Fire Service for their work managing and fighting fires on Mynydd Bodafon during the summer. At one point, the fire had spread to 1,500 meter squared. We are extremely grateful that no one was injured during the incident.
Earlier this month, a special event was held with key partners and stakeholders to celebrate the County Council’s journey to becoming a Trauma Informed Island. One of the highlights was naming Ysgol Gyfun Llangefni as the first mainstream secondary school in the United Kingdom to receive the Trauma Informed and Mental Health award from Trauma Informed Schools UK. Thank you to everyone for their dedication during this important journey to ensuring that our Council and our Island is trauma informed.
On the 15th of August, the County Council and officers from RAF Valley came together to commemorate 80 years since VJ Day with a flag raising ceremony outside the Council offices in Llangefni. Many also attended the remembrance event that was organised by Councillor Aled Morris Jones at Parys Mountain in the evening. Both events, as well as the VE Day event in May, were opportunities to remember the generation who sacrificed so much, so that we can enjoy our freedom today.
Lastly, it was sad to hear about the passing of the former county councillor, Derlwyn Hughes. I’d like to share my deepest sympathies with his family and friends.
As ever, we as a Council also sympathise with any elected member or member of staff who has experienced a recent loss. I therefore ask those present in the Chamber, who are able to do so, to please stand for a minute silence to pay our respect.