Cool Cymru (Cool Wales)

The Noah’s Ark Appeal:

Until recently, Wales was the only country in Europe that did not have a dedicated children’s hospital. Determined to change the situation and ensure that children in Wales should have access to the same care as other children throughout Europe, a group of dedicated people began a campaigning for a dedicated Children’s Hospital for Wales.

Their tireless lobbying finally resulted in the National Assembly’s approval for the project to go ahead with the money for the building to be raised through a charitable capital appeal.

The Noah’s Ark Appeal was set up in May 2000 to raise the money needed to build the first phase of the first children’s hospital for Wales. Many people, across Wales and beyond, were spurred into action to support the cause. At the beginning of the Cool Cymru Collection process Terry Morris approached the charity with an idea that would celebrate Welsh talent through an iconic photography collection and benefit the hospital financially. It proved to be a rewarding relationship.

The first phase of the Children’s Hospital for Wales opened its doors to its first patients in February 2005. In stark contrast to the rundown paediatric wards, the Children’s Hospital for Wales is bright, welcoming and child-friendly; it has been built with a child’s perspective in mind. Floor patterns lead the way along each of the themed wards and nurses’ stations are illuminated from below to guide children back to their rooms.

Interactive art features on the walls of the hospital have the effect of making the hospital bright and cheerful and also a distraction from illness. Parents’ needs are also catered for with pulldown beds for overnight stays and dedicated kitchen and rest areas.

Without the support and generosity of so many people, including star names, the Appeal couldn’t have achieved what it has so far. However, it is vital that the Noah’s Ark Appeal continues fundraising to support additional projects and facilities at the hospital to provide world-class care for generations of sick children in Wales.

The Cool Cymru Collection book offers fans the chance to own a part of the project, the royalties from which will be donated to the Noah’s Ark Appeal for the Children’s Hospital of Wales in Cardiff.

The book, published by Graffeg, is a behind-the-scenes look at how the photographic collection has been created, documenting the journey photographer Morris has taken in building the series of portraits. It also has exclusive interviews with the celebrities themselves, including Charlotte Church, Gavin Henson, Bryn Terfel and Dame Shirley Bassey.

The book will go on sale at the official launch for the Cool Cymru Collection where the original signed portraits will be auctioned for Noah’s Ark.

Touring exhibition:  starting at WMC Cardiff.

The Cool Cymru Collection celebrates the great and dynamic talent in Wales, and as part of that celebration a duplicate set of Terry Morris’ iconic photographs will be touring around Wales in 2007 to give you the chance to see the beginning of Wales’ first Hall of Fame. The Collection will be launched to the public at Wales Millennium Centre on November 24th 2006 and stay housed there until 2007 before embarking on a journey around the country.

The book:

Terry Morris and Dame Shirley Bassey in office suite 112 of Chelsea Harbour’s Chambers (South ) building

Shining star Dame Shirley Bassey has enjoyed more than half a century of showbiz succes

Terry Morris scatters diamonds loaned by jeweller Asprey onto the floor of his makeshift Chelsea Harbour studio

Members of an ITV Wales film crew look as Terry Morris and Dame Shirley Bassey talk ideas

Let’s see what we’ve got here. Dame Shirley Bassey has a sneak preview of her pictures

The shooting with Dame Shirley Bassey took 45 minutes, Terry capturing many frames filled with the doors he’s shipped in to Chelsea from Llanelli

Dame Shirley Bassey looked sexy and mysterious in her black Vivienne Westwood dress

The Cool Cymru Collection book – Special offer 50% off.

Take an incredible journey with Terry Morris on his quest to create Wales ‘s first photographic hall of fame. Enjoy his celebrity portraits and delight in the stories behind each shoot.

This book documents how the photographer used great skill and unyielding determination to meet the challenge of getting some wonderful Welsh idols to sit for him for free.

Journalist Andy Pearson’s first-hand commentary is a great read. His celebrity interviews and incisive insights into Terry’s thought processes provide a lively complement to the pictures.

The Cool Cymru Collection book features Charlotte Church, Gavin Henson, Bryn Terfel, Rhys Ifans, Joe Calzaghe, Ryan Giggs, Dame Shirley Bassey, Ioan Gruffudd and Stuart Cable.

This glossy hardback is a fabulous gift for all lovers of Wales, celebrities. and both. It’s a stunning keepsake for those who visit the Cool Cymru Collection exhibition.

Cool Cymru Collection is published by Graffeg – publishers of photographic books about contemporary Wales. To order the book visit http://www.graffeg.com.

For more information about the Cool Cymru Collection book phone Graffeg’s Vanessa Kilcoyne on 029 2037 7312.

•Cool Cymru Collection
•Over 80 photographs
•Size 250 x 300mm
•160 pages
•ISBN 9781905582099
•Now only £12.50

For the video CLICK HERE or CLICK HERE