• What's on?
• Arts + Health
• A Tribute to Nye Bevan

A Tribute to Nye Bevan

This weekend sees the unveiling of a new mural in the grounds of Weston Hospital, through which acclaimed artist Stewy pays homage to Aneurin (Nye) Bevan, looking back across the Bristol Channel towards his home town in Tredegar, Wales.

Nye Bevan was born in 1897 into a mining family,  left school at 13 and worked in the local colliery, before winning a scholarship to study in London.  In 1929 he was elected as Labour MP for Ebbw Vale and in 1945 became Minister of Health in a new post-war government. He was instrumental in spearheading the formation of the National Health Service, which launched on 5 July 1948.  For the first time ever, nurses, doctors, pharmacists, dentists and opticians were brought together as part of a single organization with free diagnosis and treatment for all.

“…no society can legitimately call itself civilized if a sick person is denied medical aid because of lack of means.”  Aneurin Bevan 

Weston Arts + Health Weekender is co-produced with University Hospitals Bristol & Weston NHS Foundation Trust.