Latest news with #Cwm
The Guardian
20-05-2025
- General
- The Guardian
Down in the valleys: the wonders of Wales
For nearly 30 years Ken Grant has photographed the south Wales valleys. The title Cwm means valley or corrie in Welsh and steep-sided valleys form the backbone of the images in his new book. Grant embarked quietly on this series in the mid-1990s, in parallel to his more widely seen photographs depicting urban working-class life in his native Liverpool. Although visually dissimilar, both sets of work are connected by the themes of labour and endurance. Cwm: The Fair Country by Ken Grant is available to purchase from RRB Books Grant's images record the gradual post-industrial transition of the landscape and the communities weathering change – watched by the steadfast ponies who have populated the hills for millennia The valleys are typically aligned by nature in parallel, running north to south. With the advent of industry in the area in the 19th century, urban development began to snake in ribbons along the floors of the valleys Wild ponies inhabit many of the landscapes and have witnessed what industry did to the Welsh valleys and its people over centuries Grant's photographs – taken in locations across the region including Beaufort, Ebbw Vale and Fochriw – show the green of the hills disrupted by artery-like roads, concrete bridges and rows of workers' terraced houses Ken Grant: 'When my father began to talk through ways to settle affairs, as old men tired of it all sometimes do, I told him I needed nothing. I already had the tools he'd given me when I first proved I could carry a job. I had no use for suits, or shirts bought in sales but never worn, and why would I hold on to family photographs that had lain in drawers across a working life that could never pause to look at such things? I asked for nothing, except for a painting that, steady and watching, had sat above his mantelpiece all my life' '… Dapple-bruised Welsh horses, painted in a loose herd, are imagined beneath a sky that promises rain. That rain will come, and the horses will surely bear it again. They must know it will pass. They tend to tolerate these things. Didn't their benign strength free children from the push and drag of mines? Weren't they compliant through filthy wars, harnessed and led by the promise of pasture and release? And didn't some look up from grazing when strikes brought fracture and silence as the work ended?' 'There are quick growing forests now above the deep vein seams of south Wales, with spruce neck lacing villages cast free of a purpose that once shaped them' 'Near Beaufort, Fochriw and Ebbw Vale, where horses drift in teams, the marks of industry are easily missed in the shade of hills that rise behind institutes and towns that, for all the squalls that pass through, persevere' 'There's wonder in why a painter chooses shadow over sunlight and the kind of pleasing prospect that might comfort a home better. There must be reason in the depiction of waiting, of weathering and tolerance, of the still hereness in all of this' 'There's tenderness in the stories about the loved and expired that find a late path through shallow breathing to the closest of company, watched only by the horses, who are still there after everything, and who know all there is to know about belonging, the end of days and occasional rain' Collectively the photographs in Cwm create a layered account of a much photographed region, foregrounding beauty, scars and the life that persists despite the weight of an industry's passing. Read more about this image here
South Wales Guardian
21-04-2025
- Sport
- South Wales Guardian
Cwmamman United U15s are West Glamorgan League champions
The West Glamorgan League match saw Bryncoch initially take a two-goal lead, but they were reduced to 10 players after a red card for dissent. Cwmamman took advantage, narrowing the gap before half-time. After the break, goals from Flynn Williams, Riley Parkin, Trammel Joseph, and Sam Williams sealed the victory. The match, held on Wednesday, April 16, sparked celebrations among the Cwm players, coaching staff, and supporters. Cwmamman are now the league champions.
Yahoo
16-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Morgues overcrowded due to death certificate delays
Families are unable to say goodbye to loved ones because of changes to death certificates which has also led to overcrowded mortuaries, a funeral director has said. Geraint Griffith said it was taking between 10 and 20 days for bodies to arrive due to the new system, introduced in September, which he said made it hard to make them look presentable for loved ones. Overcrowding has also led to hundreds of bodies being moved to other mortuaries in the past six months, and Mr Griffith said families were not being informed. The lead medical examiner for Wales said he was working "tirelessly" to address any delays. Plan for volunteer team to attend empty funerals Death certificate delays leave family in limbo Son fined after dad's funeral overruns by 13 minutes Under the new system, partially introduced in response to the deaths caused by serial killer doctor Harold Shipman, all deaths not investigated by a coroner must be reviewed independently by a medical examiner before a death certificate can be issued. Mr Griffith, a funeral director in Pontypridd, Rhondda Cynon Taf, said: "It's wrong for families who can't say goodbye to their loved ones. "There's no other way to say it, they're absolutely devastated." He said it would previously take about three or four days for a body to be released from a hospital mortuary to a funeral director, but this was now taking 10 to 20 days. "I've had to turn families away from coming to the chapel of rest because I can't make their loved ones presentable enough because of the length of time between the passing and the registration. "It's very traumatic for them and it's causing families to have lots of anxiety, lots of stress and pain. It doesn't need to happen." As a result of the delays, health boards are having to move bodies between hospitals to ensure morgues do not exceed capacity. Cwm Taf Morgannwg health board, which covers Rhondda Cynon Taf, Bridgend and Merthyr Tydfil, moved approximately 500 deceased patients between September and mid March, according to a BBC Wales Freedom of Information (FOI) request. The health board said this was caused by "extreme pressure due to increased length of stay", adding it appreciated the time after death was "distressing" for families and that its priority during transportation was to "maintain the dignity of that person". Mr Griffith said he was not surprised bodies were being moved, but was shocked families were not being told. "I think if families knew exactly - the transportation and moving sometime 20 to 25 miles from one hospital to another - I don't think they would approve of that. "And again, during the transportation period they're unrefrigerated," he said. Elsewhere, Aneurin Bevan health board said it had moved 229 bodies between mid September and late February, Swansea Bay 98 and Hywel Dda 21. Cardiff and Vale health board said it was "not possible" to provide a count and Betsi Cadawaldr said no persons had been moved due to shortage of space, only for post-mortem examinations. Iwan Evans, a funeral director in Carmarthenshire, said there was no blame on mortuary staff or any specific health board, adding there was a "natural pressure" in the winter months due to an increase in deaths. But he said the lack of capacity in hospital mortuaries was "definitely" a direct result of the "bureaucratic" medical examiner system. "When we're alive, we trust the doctors, but then after death, this whole system is in place to review and monitor the doctor's work. "I don't think it's 100% suitable for them to review every single death." Health is devolved in Wales, but death certificates are not. Mr Evans said the Welsh government should intervene. "There are systems to take care of the deceased all over the world, but the situation we have is that our Senedd, where health has been devolved, is accountable to another parliament for this matter." Rachel Bradburne, of the National Association of Funeral Directors, said the "piecemeal" nature of the system was "frustrating" and the current system was "full of bottlenecks and delays". Jason Shannon, lead medical examiner for Wales, said he recognised the importance of "seamless and timely death certification". "We sympathise with any loved ones experiencing delays and we are working tirelessly with all professionals and organisations involved in the death certification process to address any delays being experienced following new changes to the England and Wales death certificate system," he added. The Welsh government apologised to families who had experienced delays and said the changes were designed to "strengthen safeguard". It added it was working with the lead medical examiner, NHS and other organisations to provide additional support. The Department of Health and Social Care said the changes supported "vital improvements to patient safety" and provide comfort and clarity to the bereaved. "We recognise that there are significant regional variations, and we are actively monitoring these and working closely with the NHS and the Welsh government to swiftly address them."
Yahoo
16-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Morgues overcrowded due to death certificate delays
Families are unable to say goodbye to loved ones because of changes to death certificates which has also led to overcrowded mortuaries, a funeral director has said. Geraint Griffith said it was taking between 10 and 20 days for bodies to arrive due to the new system, introduced in September, which he said made it hard to make them look presentable for loved ones. Overcrowding has also led to hundreds of bodies being moved to other mortuaries in the past six months, and Mr Griffith said families were not being informed. The lead medical examiner for Wales said he was working "tirelessly" to address any delays. Plan for volunteer team to attend empty funerals Death certificate delays leave family in limbo Son fined after dad's funeral overruns by 13 minutes Under the new system, partially introduced in response to the deaths caused by serial killer doctor Harold Shipman, all deaths not investigated by a coroner must be reviewed independently by a medical examiner before a death certificate can be issued. Mr Griffith, a funeral director in Pontypridd, Rhondda Cynon Taf, said: "It's wrong for families who can't say goodbye to their loved ones. "There's no other way to say it, they're absolutely devastated." He said it would previously take about three or four days for a body to be released from a hospital mortuary to a funeral director, but this was now taking 10 to 20 days. "I've had to turn families away from coming to the chapel of rest because I can't make their loved ones presentable enough because of the length of time between the passing and the registration. "It's very traumatic for them and it's causing families to have lots of anxiety, lots of stress and pain. It doesn't need to happen." As a result of the delays, health boards are having to move bodies between hospitals to ensure morgues do not exceed capacity. Cwm Taf Morgannwg health board, which covers Rhondda Cynon Taf, Bridgend and Merthyr Tydfil, moved approximately 500 deceased patients between September and mid March, according to a BBC Wales Freedom of Information (FOI) request. The health board said this was caused by "extreme pressure due to increased length of stay", adding it appreciated the time after death was "distressing" for families and that its priority during transportation was to "maintain the dignity of that person". Mr Griffith said he was not surprised bodies were being moved, but was shocked families were not being told. "I think if families knew exactly - the transportation and moving sometime 20 to 25 miles from one hospital to another - I don't think they would approve of that. "And again, during the transportation period they're unrefrigerated," he said. Elsewhere, Aneurin Bevan health board said it had moved 229 bodies between mid September and late February, Swansea Bay 98 and Hywel Dda 21. Cardiff and Vale health board said it was "not possible" to provide a count and Betsi Cadawaldr said no persons had been moved due to shortage of space, only for post-mortem examinations. Iwan Evans, a funeral director in Carmarthenshire, said there was no blame on mortuary staff or any specific health board, adding there was a "natural pressure" in the winter months due to an increase in deaths. But he said the lack of capacity in hospital mortuaries was "definitely" a direct result of the "bureaucratic" medical examiner system. "When we're alive, we trust the doctors, but then after death, this whole system is in place to review and monitor the doctor's work. "I don't think it's 100% suitable for them to review every single death." Health is devolved in Wales, but death certificates are not. Mr Evans said the Welsh government should intervene. "There are systems to take care of the deceased all over the world, but the situation we have is that our Senedd, where health has been devolved, is accountable to another parliament for this matter." Rachel Bradburne, of the National Association of Funeral Directors, said the "piecemeal" nature of the system was "frustrating" and the current system was "full of bottlenecks and delays". Jason Shannon, lead medical examiner for Wales, said he recognised the importance of "seamless and timely death certification". "We sympathise with any loved ones experiencing delays and we are working tirelessly with all professionals and organisations involved in the death certification process to address any delays being experienced following new changes to the England and Wales death certificate system," he added. The Welsh government apologised to families who had experienced delays and said the changes were designed to "strengthen safeguard". It added it was working with the lead medical examiner, NHS and other organisations to provide additional support. The Department of Health and Social Care said the changes supported "vital improvements to patient safety" and provide comfort and clarity to the bereaved. "We recognise that there are significant regional variations, and we are actively monitoring these and working closely with the NHS and the Welsh government to swiftly address them."
