Honouring Eileen Beasley

On saturday 26th November I was invited along to the Llangennech community centre, for those that don't know Llangennech, it's a small village four miles away from Llanelli, if you've ever been to Llanelli via the M4 then you will have passed by without even realising it. I know the community centre quite well as it's where I had my first Welsh classes when I started learning in 2011. Something I might never have been able to do without people such as Eileen.

The centre is only a few years old and features a library, meeting rooms, kitchen and a hall complete with stage. In the mornings it's used as a meithrin nursery and in the afternoon the pensioners break out the bowls. It's quite an important part of the local community.

The hall is named after Eileen Beasley and Saturday was the unveiling of the plaque.

Click to enlarge

Yn Gymraeg - Cick to enlarge

In English - Cick to enlarge

Eileen and Trefor Beasley were Welsh language campaigners from the 1950s. No doubt everyone has heard of Rosa Parks, but before Rosa was 'causing trouble' on the buses the Beasleys were 'causing trouble' with Llanelli council.

The Beasleys refused to pay their tax bills unless they were written in Welsh. They were hauled before the courts 16 times in 8 years. The bailiffs took virtually everything from them, including the carpets. Eventually after almost 10 years they won their battle in 1960 and Llanelli council finally issued a bilingual bill.

Saunders Lewis later took up the fight and soon after Cymdeithas yr Iaith was born. Over the coming decades a Welsh language TV station was launched, bilingual road signs, services and schools have become the norm. So perhaps a plaque and a village hall are the least that could be done to honour someone who did so much for the Welsh language, especially at a time when statues for footballers are popping up everywhere. But it's a start.

And for those politicians who couldn't be bothered to turn up, the ones that were too busy looking for a pub to watch the rugby later that afternoon, ar dy feic.

Edit - I have since been back to the Neuadd Beasley with a better camera so was able to take a close up of the text and have added these below the main plaque picture. Note I have reduced the picture size and compressed it slightly but they are still legible.