Newport pupils help fill Friars Walk time capsule
Posted on Wednesday 21st October 2015
A time capsule buried in the new Friars Walk retail and leisure scheme will give future generations a glimpse of life in Newport today.
Schools in the city contributed items for the time capsule which is due to be opened in 50 years.
Pupils representing the participating schools were invited to the Friars Walk site to watch Newport's Mayor Councillor Herbie Thomas bury the capsule.
They were joined by Cabinet Member for Education and Young People Councillor Debbie Wilcox; Deputy Leader Councillor Ray Truman; Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Investment Councillor John Richards as well as representatives of developers Queensberry Real Estate and building contractors Bowmer and Kirkland.
The time capsule was the idea of Councillor Majid Rahman and he also attended the ceremony.
Schools were invited to submit items and their contributions included DVDs of school concerts, memory sticks containing their work, school ties, letters to "people in the future", photographs of the city centre and the Newport Monopoly game.
There were also photographs from when Newport hosted the Nato summit in 2014. President Barack Obama visited Mount Pleasant Primary School and pupils from city schools were guests at a summit event in the Celtic Manor attended by Mr Obama, Prince Charles and the Prime Minister.
Another DVD contains a film of pupils from Caerleon, Llanwern and St Joseph's RC comprehensive schools talking about why they were looking forward to the opening of Friars Walk and why Newport is a city on the rise.
Councillor Wilcox said: "We stand on the verge of a new and exciting chapter in the history of Newport City Centre with the opening of Friars Walk and it is fitting that our young people are part of that story.
"The time capsule is their legacy for future school pupils, maybe even their own grandchildren, who will be given a unique insight into school life and the city as it is today.
"I would like to thank Councillor Rahman for coming up with the idea and all the schools that have participated. I hope they have enjoyed finding items that they think will be of interest to children and young people in 2065."
The schools that contributed to the time capsule were Crindau, Maes Ebbw, Eveswell, Llanmartin, Glan Usk, St Woolos and Malpas Church in Wales primary schools; Duffryn High, Newport High and St Joseph's RC High schools; the Bridge Achievement Centre and Tiny Tots Nursery.