A winning design for a new Spanish Civil War memorial has been announced, marking another key milestone in Rhondda Cynon Taf Council’s international heritage collaboration.
The announcement follows a public exhibition held at Rhondda Heritage Park on Saturday, June 13, where artwork created by local school pupils was showcased as part of the project. The initiative connects Rhondda Cynon Taf with the Ebro and Malgrat de Mar in Spain through shared remembrance.
The project builds on the Council’s established heritage collaboration with partners Porta de la Història Cultural Association and Solidarity Park Association and continues to highlight the story of Harry Dobson – the Tonypandy-born miner who was fatally wounded near Hill 481 during the Battle of the Ebro in 1938 while serving with the International Brigades.
The exhibition featured designs produced by pupils from Porth Community School, developed during a series of creative workshops led by artist and sculptor Rob MacDonald, founder of the Solidarity Park project in Malgrat de Mar. Artwork by students from schools located in England, the Netherlands, Spain and Catalonia were also on display.
The designs will inform a new porthole-style memorial disc, forming part of a series of connected memorials planned for Rhondda Cynon Taf, Catalonia and Malgrat de Mar.
The day began with speeches and presentations, alongside performances from Côr Cochion Caerdydd, culminating in the announcement of the winning design by Councillor Scott Emanuel, Cabinet Member for Communities, Culture and Leisure. The winning design will combine two separate pupil entries by Jay Cutler and Ruby Davies, bringing together elements from both submissions into the final artwork.
Together, the two entries create a design that reflects Harry Dobson’s story, his roots in the mining communities of Rhondda Cynon Taf and the wider ideals represented by the International Brigades.
Afterwards, attendees took part in a hands-on stonemasonry session where members of the public, pupils and their families were invited to try carving into the porthole stone that will form part of the memorial.
By involving young people directly in the design process, the project connects a new generation with Rhondda Cynon Taf’s place in a wider international history, linking local learning with communities in Spain where that shared story is still remembered today.
Councillor Maureen Webber BEM, Deputy Leader of Rhondda Cynon Taf Council and Armed Forces Champion, said: “This project continues to demonstrate the strength of our international partnerships and our commitment to preserving and sharing Rhondda Cynon Taf’s place in international history.
“It is particularly inspiring to see young people playing such an important role in shaping this memorial, ensuring that the legacy of those who served – including Harry Dobson – is remembered by future generations in a meaningful and lasting way.”
The Council is also highlighting an upcoming free guided visit taking place in Spain, In the Footsteps of Harry Dobson: The Battle of Ebro Guided Tour, taking place from July 24 to 26 and organised by Porta de la Història Cultural Association. The visit will explore key sites connected to Harry Dobson’s story and the wider Battle of the Ebro.
People wishing to take part should contact Porta de la Història directly at pdlhistoria@gmail.com or via WhatsApp on +34 638 438 766.
Further details of this exciting international heritage collaboration will be released as the project continues to progress.
Councillor Scott Emanuel, Cabinet Member for Communities, Culture & Leisure with primary responsibility for Culture, Leisure & Tourism, said: “It was a privilege to attend the exhibition and see first-hand the creativity and thought that young people have brought to this project. The standard of the artwork was incredibly high, and the decision to combine two designs for the final memorial reflects the strength of ideas on display. Taking part in the carving of the stone myself made the experience even more powerful.
“What makes this project especially significant is that it connects local young people with a story that reaches far beyond Rhondda Cynon Taf. Harry Dobson was an ordinary man from Tonypandy, but his courage became part of an extraordinary international fight against fascism and injustice.
“Through projects like this, we are helping a new generation understand that community is not just about where we live – it is also about the values we stand for, including solidarity, hope and standing up for others.”
Solidarity Park is a socio-cultural project launched by artist Rob MacDonald in 2016 after reading about his namesake, a Scottish brigadier who sank with the Ciudad de Barcelona, alongside other International Brigaders.
This led to the creation of a living monument on the beach in Malgrat de Mar in 2022, brought to life with the help of over 700 participants who carved the stone figures during street festivals and public workshops. Placed opposite the spot where the Ciudad de Barcelona sank, the site is an annual international festival that reclaims the values of the International Brigades – solidarity, liberty and equality – through art, education and remembrance.
For more information, please visit their website: Solidarity Park
Porta de la Història Cultural Association is a co-operative (currently in formation) initiative of individuals living in Catalunya, Spain and abroad who have a fascination with the Spanish Civil War (1936–1939) and the social struggles that preceded and followed it.
For more information, they can be found online via:
To find out more about our heritage exhibitions and collections, please visit: Rhondda Cynon Taf | Our Heritage
Posted on 13/07/2026