English: Eighty-five years ago, following the bombing of Guernica during the Spanish civil war, 4,000 Basque children and accompanying adult staff were evacuated to Britain. It was a remarkable display of community grass-roots organisation. Over 200 children came to Wales, where homes known as 'colonies' were set up for refugees, one of which was in Cambria House in Caerleon, where 56 children arrived on 10 July 1937. It turned out to be one of the most successful in the UK. It was a time of high unemployment and poverty, but the people of Caerleon and Newport welcomed the children with open arms. Everyone was involved in fundraising, from the South Wales Miner's Federation and local volunteers, to the children themselves. They formed a formidable Basque football team, produced their own bilingual newspaper, and helped to raise money through traditional Basque dances and songs. On this notable anniversary, I'm delighted that a delegation of the Basque Government will be at a series of events being held in Caerleon. The weekend of festivities includes football matches, dancers, singers and poets from both Wales and the Basque Country, seminars and talks, and also tours of Caerleon's Roman heritage. It promises to be a wonderful occasion. With war once again clouding over Europe, the parallels with refugees and the hospitality of the Welsh people are sadly very easy to see. The generosity and kindness of the people of Caerleon should be something our country is proud of. I'm so pleased it's being commemorated, and long may that relationship between our people continue to thrive.
Welsh: Wyth deg pum mlynedd yn ôl, yn dilyn bomio Guernica yn ystod rhyfel cartref Sbaen, cafodd 4,000 o blant Basgaidd a staff cysylltiol eu symud i Brydain. Roedd yn enghraifft hynod o drefniadaeth gymunedol ar lawr gwlad. Daeth dros 200 o blant i Gymru, lle sefydlwyd cartrefi a elwid yn 'colonies' ar gyfer ffoaduriaid, ac roedd un ohonynt yn Cambria House yng Nghaerllion, lle cyrhaeddodd 56 o blant ar 10 Gorffennaf 1937. Roedd yn un o'r rhai mwyaf llwyddiannus yn y DU. Roedd yn gyfnod o ddiweithdra a thlodi mawr, ond croesawodd pobl Caerllion a Chasnewydd y plant â breichiau agored. Cymerai pawb ran mewn gweithgareddau i godi arian, o Ffederasiwn Glowyr De Cymru a gwirfoddolwyr lleol, i'r plant eu hunain. Fe wnaethant ffurfio tîm pêl-droed Basgaidd aruthrol, cynhyrchu eu papur newydd dwyieithog eu hunain, a helpu i godi arian drwy ddawnsiau a chaneuon Basgaidd traddodiadol. Ar y pen-blwydd nodedig hwn, rwy'n falch iawn y bydd dirprwyaeth o Lywodraeth Gwlad y Basg yn bresennol mewn cyfres o ddigwyddiadau sy'n cael eu cynnal yng Nghaerllion. Mae penwythnos yr ŵyl yn cynnwys gemau pêl-droed, dawnswyr, cantorion a beirdd o Gymru a Gwlad y Basg, seminarau a sgyrsiau, a theithiau o amgylch treftadaeth Rufeinig Caerllion. Mae'n addo bod yn achlysur gwych. Gyda rhyfel unwaith eto'n gwmwl dros Ewrop, mae'n hawdd iawn gweld elfennau tebyg rhwng y cyfnod hwnnw a ffoaduriaid a lletygarwch y Cymry heddiw. Dylai haelioni a charedigrwydd pobl Caerllion fod yn rhywbeth y mae ein gwlad yn falch ohono. Rwy'n falch iawn ei fod yn cael ei goffáu, a hir y parhaed y berthynas honno rhwng ein pobl.