On Wednesday March 9th 2022, ten members of our Sketty Primary School Council, Mrs Philips our headteacher, Mrs Berry our Chair of Governors and Miss Lewis School Council co-ordinator, were invited to the opening ceremony of Swansea Arena by the Countess of Wessex. We were very excited to see the new arena and to meet the Countess. 

When we arrived, we met Mr Phil Roberts the Chief Executive of Swansea Council and he gave us a tour of the arena, it was amazing! We were told the arena cost millions of pounds to create. It has moving seats that can be folded away into the wall to allow space when seating isn't needed. It can seat up to 3,500 people.

After the tour we spoke with the Deputy Lieutenant Alan Brayley, as we awaited the Countess' arrival. We met pupils and staff from other schools who were also invited; Blaenymaes; Penyrheol and Pentrehafod. They were just as excited as we were.

We were asked to greet the Countess at Swansea’s Costal Park, which is next door to the arena. We were lucky enough to be the first school to meet the Countess when she arrived. She spoke to us and asked us how we were. She was really kind. The Countess thanked us for coming to help her plant a tree for the Queen’s Canopy and to celebrate Swansea being a Queen's Green Canopy “Champion City”. Harry was asked to help plant the tree for the Queen's Jubilee, with the Countess, he even shared her trowel! The Countess asked all the children to come back to the Costal Park to check on the tree to make sure it was growing well.

After planting, the Countess had a tour of the arena and spoke to all the schools and dignitaries who were at the event. We met the Lord Lieutenant, High Sheriff of West Glamorgan and the Lord Mayor of Swansea. They were really nice.

After the Countess had officially opened the arena by unveiling the plaque Manon did a courtesy and presented the Countess with a beautiful bouquet of flowers. Freya explained the sentiment behind the flowers in the bouquet, sunflowers to support Ukraine as they are the Ukrainian national flower and daffodils to represent Wales. The Countess thanked us and said they were lovely. William presented the Countess with a pack of greeting cards that our pupils had made. Bella told the Countess that our pupils had used silk printing to make them. The Countess thanked us for the gift and said that she liked the Welsh ladies which were printed on the cards.

Then, it was time for the Countess to leave so we all said goodbye, as she left for her next engagement.

We thoroughly enjoyed our day, it was an honour to meet the Countess of Wessex and help her plant the tree for the Queen's Jubilee. We were also very grateful to be invited to the official opening of Swansea Arena, it was fantastic to be some of the first people to view it. We are super excited to visit again with our families and to fulfil our promise to the Countess and see how the tree is growing! 

Click on the following Swansea Online Facebook links to view a video of the Countess of Wessex's arrival and photographs of her officially opening Swansea Arena.

Video

https://fb.watch/bEMGNiZ3EF

Photos

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=331778142325582&set=a.309854681184595&type=3