This St David’s Day I want to send my very best wishes to the people of Wales and Welsh people across the world. Doctor Who and the outstanding Gavin and Stacey. Today we pay tribute to all those in film, music, television and the arts who fly the flag for Wales.
I know that today, from Bangor to Builth Wells and beyond, you will be celebrating your nation and its achievements in many ways – by attending Eisteddfods, dressing your children in national costume or by taking part in parades.
You can be rightly proud of your strong and passionate country. Indeed, Welsh culture is admired far beyond our shores, as demonstrated by its showcase at the prestigious Smithsonian Festival in Washington DC last summer.
In the arts, you continue to punch above your weight, not least as home to some of our most successful television programmes –
So too do we recognise the achievements of your sportsmen and women, especially your rugby heroes and the UK’s Sports Personality of the Year, Ryan Giggs. Wales shone as host to the Ashes last summer, and I know it will once again when the eyes of the sporting world focus on the Ryder Cup in Newport this October.
Of course, it has been a landmark year for all those involved in Welsh politics – you have celebrated the first decade of devolution and – 2 –
the election of new First Minister. In partnership with Carwyn Jones, I look forward to working with you to secure the economic recovery, protect front-line public services and support Welsh businesses and jobs.
I wish you all a wonderful St David’s Day.
Gordon Brown