Women get chance to save their history

11:06am Saturday 17th May 2008

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A PROJECT aimed at rescuing and preserving the history of Welsh women for the future moved to Newport yesterday.

With Heritage Lottery funding, the Women's Archive of Wales say their job is urgent and pressing.

Authentic historical sources are needed to tell the stories of women's lives throughout the centuries but too much is thrown away.

Researchers were in Newport's museum yesterday to collect stories and mementos at one of a series of roadshows.

Newport East MP Jessica Morden and Newport West AM Rosemary Butler opened the event and stressed the importance of the archive's work.

Mrs Butler had even brought photographs of some of her own female ancestors and related what she had discovered about them.

One of her great grandmothers was married twice to men called Jones.

Sara Jones' second husband emigrated to Wyoming with children from that marriage and his previous one. She stayed behind with her youngest child, Mrs Butler's grandfather.

Alice Farmer, who lives in London but whose family have a home in Chepstow, brought a book about her aunt who died at the age of 102.

Welsh-born Esther Farmer's widowed father was a ship's engineer who was due to take up a job as a harbourmaster when he died in 1916. His ship was torpedoed leaving his children orphaned.

However, despite her humble beginnings Miss Farmer did a typing course and joined the BBC in Cardiff in 1925 later becoming a producer of programmes such as Housewives' Choice.

Visitors to the museum could read the fascinating story of Newport-born nurse Annie Brewer who worked on the front lines during the First World War and was highly decorated for her bravery.

• A similar roadshow takes place in Blaenavon Workmen's Hall on July 24.