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Home , 2002 in Wales, Herbert Lewis, Jim Griffiths, Peter Hain

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10 The Welsh

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10 Political Archive

0 The Welsh Political Archive Newsletter | Autumn 2008 | Number 39 | ISSN 1365-9170 www.llgc.org.uk 10 papers international issues from the 1970s. Peter Hain papers There are many papers deriving from Rhoi Cymru’n Gyntaf The Welsh Political Archive was the activities of the Young Liberals delighted to receive recently a very in the 1970s, including conference Dr W. R. P. George Papers large archive of the papers of the papers and many publications. Right Honourable Peter Hain, the Later papers concern electoral reform, Labour MP for . Cardiff Business Club lectures the trades unions, election campaigns, Born in , Kenya, Mr Hain and the evolution of the Labour Party Lloyd George Diary was brought up in South Africa in the 1980s. The last-named group and educated at Pretoria Boys’ includes many of Mr Hain’s keynote Cynhaeaf hanner canrif High School, until his anti- speeches. There are also more recent parents were forced to leave the papers relating to the Labour Party Sleeping with the enemy country. He later obtained degrees in the new millennium, the cabinet at Queen Mary College, London and positions held by Mr Hain, together Lord Pontypridd papers Sussex University. Originally a ‘Young with large groups of press cuttings Liberal’, he joined the Labour Party in and research papers connected Sir J. Herbert Lewis papers 1977 and served as research officer of with the donor’s books and articles. the Union of Communication Workers Further important documents are also Dr E. L. Ellis from 1976 until 1991. He stood as promised in the future. the Labour candidate for in The papers are not expected to be 1983 and 1987, eventually entering TUC available for consultation for some the Commons as MP for Neath years until they have been sorted in 1991 in succession to Donald Gareth Vaughan Jones and listed. Coleman. He was a leader of the papers 1997 Welsh referendum campaign as a Minister and then The Pain and the Privilege held a number of ministerial offices at Westminster before being appointed WPA Newsletters Secretary of State for Wales in 2002, Leader of the House of Commons in Other accessions 2003, Secretary of State for Northern Ireland in 2005 and Secretary of State for Work and Pensions in 2007. Throughout this six year period he also retained his Welsh portfolio. The archive is extremely large and complete, comprising the donor’s university papers, material relating to apartheid in South Africa and a rich array of home affairs and

The Welsh Political Archive Annual Lecture 2008 ‘Some Political Reminiscences’ Lord Elystan-Morgan Drwm, The National Library of Wales, Friday, 7 November 2008, 5.30pm Richard Wyn Jones, Dr W. R. P. George papers Rhoi Cymru’n gyntaf (Cardiff, 2007) Through the kindness of Mrs Greta George, Garthcelyn, Criccieth, the This substantial volume is a groundbreaking, pioneering study of ’s Library was delighted to receive a political philosophy from its foundation in 1925 until the setting up of the large archive of the correspondence National Assembly for Wales. It is clearly based on many years of meticulous and papers of her late husband Dr W. reading and research work. R. P. George CBE (1912 – 2006), the The highly readable text is divided into two discrete sections: a general distinguished lawyer, poet and local introduction to interpretations of nationalism; and a detailed, in depth analysis politician. They include long runs of of the political ideas of the four most prominent leaders in the history of full desk diaries and pocket diaries the party: Saunders Lewis, , Dafydd Wigley and Dafydd Elis- and notebooks containing material Thomas. In the author’s opinion, the devastating outcome of the devolution for Dr George’s many articles and referendum held on 1 March 1979 was the major turning-point in the books. There are also papers reflecting party’s evolution. Other prominent themes discussed in the volume include Dr George’s political activities and the burning of the bombing school at Penyberth in 1936 and the changing his involvement with Beirdd relationship between Gwynfor Evans and Saunders Lewis over several decades. Ynys Prydain (of which he served as archdruid from 1989 until 1992), the National Eisteddfod and various local eisteddfodau. There are also drafts and copies of poems and legal Lloyd George Diary papers. Some of the papers relate to Dr George’s family, including his father The Library has been able to purchase William George (1865 – 1967) and Lloyd George’s pocket diary for 1885 his famous uncle when he was twenty-three years (1863 – 1945). of age. It contains many full entries which give a fascinating picture of his activities and pursuits. There are many entries which refer to his activities as a newly qualified solicitor and the legal cases which he took on. There are also many references to his political activities and public speaking and to the beginnings of his courtship of Miss Maggie Owen of Mynydd Ednyfed Fawr, Criccieth. There are also many references in the diary to other close members of the Lloyd George family. The diary has been added to the William George Papers.

Cardiff Business Club Gwilym Prys Davies, Cynhaeaf hanner canrif: lectures Gwleidyddiaeth Gymreig, 1945 – 2005 Through the good offices of Mr Jeff (Llandysul, 2008) Drake, the Library has received a large collection of more than 150 CDs of Lord Prys-Davies has made a significant contribution to Welsh national life the monthly lectures delivered to as a patriotic lawyer, politician and administrator. His account of Welsh politics the Cardiff Business Club by leading after 1945 is grounded firmly in his own personal experiences and friendships politicians and public figures during with a host of Labour politicians in Wales including , Goronwy the years since 1992. These include Roberts, Cledwyn Hughes, John Morris and Ron Davies. Two main themes are prominent British politicians like outlined here: the battle to achieve devolutionary concessions for Wales, and the , Lord Crickhowell, long fight to grant legal status to the Welsh language. Ron Davies, William Haig, Peter Hain, There is interesting original material on the tenacious Parliament for Wales , Cecil Parkinson and campaign of the 1950s, the establishment of the Welsh Office in 1964, the Lord Tonypandy. They are now in devolution referendum of 1 March 1979 and the setting up of the Welsh the care of the National Screen and Assembly in 1999. But throughout the reminiscences are written from the Sound Archive of Wales. The text of perspective of the Labour Party. lectures given to the club from 1994 onwards may be downloaded from its website. Sleeping with the enemy

experienced so many momentous In Mr Jenkins’s view, the 1984 – 85 changes, and was in the forefront of miners’ strike ‘had joined the list of the the battle to save jobs in the steel and great Welsh working class struggles: coal industries. Predictably, the lecture the miners’ strike of 1898, the Penrhyn attracted a substantial audience in the quarrymen’s lockout that lasted from Drwm at NLW. 1900 to 1903, the Cambrian coal strike between 1910 and 1911, and of In an absorbing, well delivered lecture, course the 1926 south Wales miners’ Mr Jenkins examined the impact of the lockout that followed the collapse of Thatcher governments’ policies upon the general strike. All heroic struggles, the British steel and coal industries and all heroic defeats’. their workforces, and the consequent steps taken by the membership of TUC Those unable to be present will be Wales to resist the sweeping proposals pleased to know that the text of the by introducing new initiatives and new lecture is available for consultation on jobs into Wales. He paid tribute to the Library’s web pages in the section Nicholas Edwards as Secretary of State on the Welsh Political Archive. The 2006 WPA annual lecture was for Wales for helping to mitigate the delivered by Lord Crickhowell who, worst effects of Thatcherism on the as Nicholas Edwards, served as the Welsh economy and society. Conservative Secretary of State for Wales between 1979 and 1987 while He also looks at the important role MP for Pembrokeshire. His lecture was, of the Wales Co-operative Centre Lord Pontypridd in attracting inward investment into predictably, a vigorous and entertaining The Library has been able to purchase Wales, the support received from defence of the record of successive a small group of correspondence, 1894 the European Parliament at Brussels governments in relation to Wales. In – 1913, addressed to Sir Alfred Thomas, and the impact of the 1984 – 85 November 2007, Mr David Jenkins’s Bronwydd, Cardiff, the Liberal MP for miners’ strike. He paid tribute to the WPA lecture examined some of the East Glamorgan from 1885 until 1910 solidarity of the Welsh miners during same seminal events from a rather who later became the first and last Baron the strike, ‘The year long strike had different angle. His lecture was entitled Pontypridd. They include letters from gained nothing: no concessions, no ‘Sleeping with the Enemy: Trades H. H. Asquith, Sir Henry Campbell- agreement, and in other areas of the Unions in Wales during the Thatcher Bannerman, , Joseph British coalfield the miners’ union was Years’. Chamberlain, David Lloyd George and in total disarray. But here in Wales Lord Rosebery. They are now designated A native of Cardiff, and a politics there had at least been unity, the strike NLW ex 2520. A large group of Lord and economics graduate of Liverpool had remained solid and the miners had Pontypridd’s correspondence and papers University, David Jenkins served as the remained loyal to the NUM. There was is already in the custody of the General Secretary of TUC Wales from something special about the Welsh Glamorgan Archives Service. 1983 until he took early retirement in miners after all’. 2004. He served, therefore, in a key position during the 1980s when Wales

Sir John Herbert Lewis papers Wales TUC

Mrs Olwen Foreman of Menai Bridge has added several interesting items to the Mr Joe England of Abergavenny has archive of her grandfather the Liberal politician Sir John Herbert Lewis (1858 – kindly donated to the Library the 1933). They include letters from Lewis to Lloyd George and from Saunders Lewis research materials which he to Herbert Lewis. They also include the reminiscences of Ruth, Lady Lewis and accumulated while preparing the their daughter Mrs Kitty Idwal Jones. seminal volume The Wales TUC, 1974 – 2004: Devolution and Industrial Politics (Cardiff, 2004). These include copies of the Wales TUC General Dr E. L. Ellis Council minutes, c. 1974 – 82, correspondence dating from the 1970s Mrs Pamela Ellis of Rhydyfelin, Aberystwyth, has donated to the WPA the and 1980s, papers relating to the correspondence accumulated by her late husband Dr E. L. Ellis (1922 – 2008) Welsh economy and various printed while he was researching his magisterial biography of Dr Thomas Jones CH items. These compliment the extensive (1870 – 1955), Deputy Secretary to the Cabinet from 1916 until 1930. The archive of the Wales TUC records biography was published by the Press in 1992. At the already held by the Library. beginning of his research, between 1978 and 1982, Dr Ellis communicated with numerous public figures with personal reminiscences of TJ, among them David Astor, Ruth Evans (widow of UCW Principal Ivor Leslie Evans), A. J. Sylvester, Lady (Eirene) White and Marlene Yeo. They have been designated NLW ex 2563 Other accessions Gareth Vaughan Jones papers

Other accessions which have • Mr Clive Betts: a large additional come to hand during the past group of press releases, reports and year include: correspondence, mainly concerning the political parties and the • The Hon. Elisabeth Large, National Assembly for Wales. Wincanton: additional papers of her father the Baron Edmund-Davies • Mr Mike Steele: additional material of Aberpennar, the distinguished of political interest, late 1980s barrister and high court judge. – 2007, accumulated by the donor as lobby correspondent for the • Mr D. Leslie Davies, Aberdare: local Community News Service at the political material, including the House of Commons. minute book, 1946 – 53, of the Aberdare branch of Plaid Cymru. • Dr Denis Balsom: a group of opinion poll papers, election • The late Nans Jones, Cardiff: a material and referenda on substantial group of photographs devolution dating from the 1970s depicting events organised by to the 1990s (Welsh Elections Plaid Cymru including conferences, Papers). Dr Siriol Colley of Nottingham has summer schools, demonstrations donated to the Library a substantial and protests. Many feature • Dr Russell Deacon: a CD of a group of the papers of her uncle Dr Gwynfor Evans. recent extensive interview with Gareth Vaughan Jones (1905 – 35), Mrs Jennifer Longford (b. 1929), • Mr Parick Hannan: a photocopy of the famous researcher, journalist daughter of Frances Stevenson. the detailed diary kept by the late and author who met his death at the Mr Phillip Weekes from 1981 until • Miss Joan Cooper, Cardiff: hands of Chinese ‘bandits’ in Inner 1984 which reflects the growing additional papers of Dr Roderic Mongolia in August 1935. There are tensions in the coal industry during Bowen (1913 – 2001), mainly of a large number of letters, postcards the build-up to the 1984 – 85 political interest. and messages, 1925 – 35, to his miners’ strike. Added to the Phillip • Mrs Ann Williams: additional papers parents and family while he was Weekes Papers. of the late Professor Phil Williams travelling to distant climes. There are also pocket diaries, photographs, • Lord Livesey of Talgarth: a copy of (1939 – 2003), mainly relating to briefs and memoranda prepared for his lecture ‘Welsh Entrepreneurs’ Plaid Cymru. David Lloyd George (who employed given at the National Library on 31 Gareth Jones as a researcher), January 2008 (NLW ex 2536). together with drafts and copies of articles. There are also many press cuttings of press articles by Gareth Jones. These papers compliment those donated by his sister the Ffion Hague, The Pain and the Privilege: late Miss Gwyneth Vaughan Jones of Barry in 1987. Dr Colley has the Women in Lloyd George’s Life promised further papers relating to (Harper Press, 2008) her uncle in the near future.

This large tome is a marvellously secretary Frances Stevenson. Other captivating, detailed account of Lloyd ladies discussed in the book include George’s relationship with the many Kitty Edwards and Mrs Tim Davies WPA Newsletters women who played a part in his long as well as a host of less well-known lifetime. These include not only his women in Lloyd George’s colourful The first issue of the WPA Newsletter long suffering wife Dame Margaret life. Ffion Hague has made extensive was published in the winter of and his mistress Frances Stevenson, but use of the rich Lloyd George archives 1985. Since then thirty-nine issues also his grandmother Rebecca Samuel, at the NLW and displays an impressive have been published to date, in a his mother Betsy Lloyd, his only sister mastery of the general political and fully bilingual format from number Mary Ellen Davies as well as his three historical background. 15 (Spring 1993) onwards. The daughters Mair Eluned (who died contents of every issue have now prematurely in 1907), Olwen Elizabeth been digitised, and all are available and Megan Arfon. for consultation via the NLW web pages in the section on the Welsh The main theme of the book is the Political Archive. Copies may also be strains and stresses of LG’s long printed off from this source. marriage with Dame Margaret and his thirty year relationship with his private Printed on paper containing a minimum of 75% post-consumer waste. petergill.com 171780808