Aneira Thomas – the first baby born on the NHS – today unveiled a very special Great Western Railway train celebrating the 75th anniversary of the health service created by a Welshman.

The Welsh author named Intercity Express Train 800005 after Aneurin Bevan, the minister for health responsible for the launch of the NHS in 1948.

NHS train naming ceremony
Aneira addresses guests at today's ceremony (GWR)

Aneira was born at one minute past midnight on 5 July 1948, making her the first NHS baby born and, to celebrate, her parents named her after the Welsh politician.

Today she travelled from her home in Swansea for the train-naming ceremony at Newport, the closest station GWR calls to Bevan’s Ebbw Vale constituency and birthplace of Tredegar.

Following the ceremony, the Aneurin Bevan train operated a service to London Paddington, calling at Swindon to acknowledge the role the town’s railway industry played in the formation of the NHS.

guests and stakeholders at Swindon to greet the newly-named train
Guests and stakeholders at Swindon to greet the newly-named train (GWR)

The Great Western Railway Medical Fund Society (MFS) was formed in 1847 with money raised by direct deductions from the wages of colleagues at the GWR works in Swindon.

Over the next 100 years the MFS developed a host of facilities – from washing baths to doctors and dental surgeries. Having visited the facilities in Swindon, it is reported that Bevan later remarked: “There it was, a complete health service. All we had to do was to expand it to embrace the whole country!”.

Aneira, who spent her career working in the NHS as a mental health nurse and is the author of best-selling book Hold on Edna, said:

“It is such an honour for the 75th anniversary of our NHS to have a train named Aneurin Bevan by GWR. What better compliment to the legacy left to us by the founder of the National Health Service and also the GWR Medical Fund in Swindon, which played a crucial role in getting the wheels in motion.

“This amazing train will forever be a reminder of the great man and the National Health Service that delivers with such skill, care and compassion. Happy 75th Birthday NHS, thank you GWR.”

Joe Graham, Lisa Cleminson, Eluned Morgan MS, Aneira and the High Sheriff of Gwent, Simon Gibson
Joe Graham, Lisa Cleminson, Eluned Morgan MS, Aneira and the High Sheriff of Gwent, Simon Gibson (GWR)

Welsh Government Minister for Health and Social Services, Eluned Morgan MS, said:

“Our NHS is cherished by everyone in Wales and we are particularly proud that it was created by a Welshman. So naming this train after Aneurin Bevan is a fitting tribute to the NHS and a great way to celebrate its 75th anniversary in Wales.”

Colleagues from the Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust with Aneira Thomas, historian Emma Snow and Tredegar Town Mayor Cllr Glyn Evans with GWR train named for NHS anniversary
Colleagues from the Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust with Aneira Thomas, historian Emma Snow and Tredegar Town Mayor Cllr Glyn Evans (GWR)