Two health service pioneers, The Circle, Tredegar

Image: © Robin Drayton Taken: 2 Aug 2013

Aneurin 'Nye' Bevan (on the left) The inscription reads: Aneurin Bevan (1897-1960). Tredegar-born politician, Aneurin Bevan, was member of parliament for the Ebbw Vale constituency, which included Tredegar and Rhymney, from 1929 until his death in 1960. He was the son of a coal miner, a champion of social justice and the rights of working people. From 1959, Bevan was Deputy Leader of the Labour Party but he is best remembered as Minister of Health in the post-war Labour Government as architect of the National Health Service, which was created in 1948. He was inspired by the Tredegar Workmen's Medical Aid Society, which he claimed was his model for the National Health Service. In Bevan's own words, “All I am doing is extending to the entire population of Britain, the benefits we had in Tredegar for a generation or more. We are going to 'Tredegerise' you!” Walter Conway (on the right) The inscription reads: Walter Conway (1873-1933). Walter Conway was secretary of Tredegar Workmen's Medical Aid Society which was the model used to establish the National Health Service in the UK. Born in 1873, Walter was orphaned at a young age and was sent to Bedwellty Workhouse. Despite its hardships, the workhouse taught Walter to 'do everything well' and it was here that he developed his 'great love for books'. After leaving the workhouse, he became a coal miner and an active member of the Labour Party. In 1915, Walter was appointed secretary to the Medical Aid Society, which over the next 18 years, he helped to develop to provide medical services to 20,000 local people. The society operated surgeries which employed 5 doctors, 2 dentists, nurses and support staff. In 1920 Walter and his friends, including a young Aneurin Bevan, formed the Query Club, which was a socialist debating society. Club members also paid a weekly subscription to create an insurance fund for its members if they found themselves in financial difficulty.

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