Author: Rheolwr Gwefan

Rhys Lewis 1937 – 2020

Rhys Lewis (1937-2020) was a mainstay of Plaid Cymru in Cardiff Central for very many years. Ever present in party meetings, his commitment, his wisdom and his many organisational skills were a constant source of inspiration to all members.

Born in Machynlleth, he was just 1 year old when his family settled in Cardiff, and he was undoubtedly a proud Cardiffian.  Although Welsh had been his parents’ language, that had been largely abandoned in the home when they settled in the city, and Rhys attributed his mastery of the Welsh language to his inspirational teacher in Cathays.

A successful career in journalism within BBC Wales and independent broadcasting companies enabled him to keep abreast of Welsh current affairs even if those roles limited the ways in which he could contribute to party political work,  but he more than made up for that when, following retirement, he grasped the opportunity to work full time alongside his lifelong friend and collaborator, Owen John Thomas throughout the first two National Assembly terms (1999 – 2007). As a keen gardener he was used to nurturing plants and at a time when the fledging legislature was far from accepted in many quarters, Rhys worked tirelessly to show the relevance of the Assembly to the people of Cardiff.  He was a caring individual and helped many a Plaid member and their families during difficult periods.

Rhys was a confirmed Francophile. He loved the times he spent in France and never missed an opportunity to use his French. He was a firm believer in Wales as a European nation, and the result of the European referendum was something that troubled him greatly.

Recent ill-health had left him with limited mobility, inhibiting his ability to canvass and leaflet, but he still found alternative ways to contribute to Plaid Cymru campaigns – organising, contacting supporters, and sharing his political insights and his humour.

It was while he was in hospital for an unrelated condition that he contracted Covid-19 and died on April 12th.  We extend our sympathy to his wife Sue, his children Geraint, Menna and Non and his grandchildren Gwen, Sophie, Alice, Nel and Cesia. Rhys enjoyed good wine and I’m sure many of us will raise a glass in memory of a true gentleman and Welsh patriot.

Marc Phillips

1970 Merthyr Election

S.O. – CHARACTER AND WELSHMAN

S.O. Davies was Labour MP for Merthyr Tydfil from 1934 to 1970. He was first elected in a by-election following the death of the local ILP MP with 51% of the vote (against the Liberal, ILP candidate and Communist) and 68% in the 1935 general election against the ILP only. But for the rest of his career, he received support from percentages ranging between 74% and 81%. The Plaid candidates who opposed him in the 50s and 60s were Trevor Morgan (as an independent nationalist), Ioan Bowen Rees and Meic Stephens.

But before the 1970 election a reporter with the Merthyr Express had a look at a list of potential Labour candidates throughout England, Wales and Scotland. The name of S.O. Davies was there, with the * symbol next to him. The correspondent asked the printers what its significance was and got the answer that it meant ‘not re-adopted’ as the local party was in the process of selecting SO’s successor, although there was no discussion between them and him about the decision. The Merthyr Express announced this shocking news of the release of one who had served his people as a local councilor, mayor and Member of Parliament for tens of years.

The rest is a myth. S.O. as an ‘Independent Labour’ candidate (which would not be legally possible today), winning 51% of the vote against the official Labour Tal Lloyd (another former mayor). By a strange coincidence, these are the exact percentages (rounded) that S.O. and his liberal opponent received in the 1935 by-election. Plaid Cymru’s annual conference was held at Cyfarthfa Castle in 1958 and Tal Lloyd, in his capacity as the mayor, officially welcomed the members to the borough.

Chris Rees was Plaid Cymru’s candidate in 1970. He once told me that he did not only congratulate S.O. but added that it was the first time he could say how proud he was that he hadn’t won himself! And I know of at least one member of the Party who helped S.O. in his campaign.

S.O. Davies was a patriot. In the Wikipedia entry about him it is said: Largely indifferent to party discipline, he defied official Labour policy by championing such causes as disarmament and Welsh nationalism.  He supported the Parliamentary petition for Wales movement in the 1950s, joining the speakers on stage at a rally organized by Plaid Cymru in Cardiff in September 1953 (see photo on page 297 of Tros Cymru, JE and Plaid by JE Jones, 1970). And in 1955 he introduced his ‘Government of Wales’ measure in the House of Commons, which was prepared with the help of party experts. But as expected, his attempt was unsuccessful.

Here is one interesting part of the debate on the floor of the House. S.O. said that support for the measure comes from ‘Monmouthshire, Cardiff, West —‘. George Thomas (MP for Cardiff West) interrupted him saying: ‘The hon. Gentleman won’t get much support there ‘. S.O. finished his sentence masterfully: ‘— Rhondda, and other places’.

S.O. Davies died in 1972, and the by-election was won for Labour by Ted Rowlands with 48.5% of the vote, the Plaid Cymru candidate Emrys Roberts gained 37%.

PHILIP LLOYD

 

Remembering Glyn James

A Blue Plaque in memory of the leading nationalist Glyn James was unveiled on Saturday 19th October at 9 Darran Terrace, Glyn Rhedynog / Ferndale, Rhondda CF43 4LG.  

The plaque was unveiled by Councillor Geraint Davies and tributes were given by Cennard Davies and Jill Evans A.E. A musical contribution was given by Côr y Morlais. The event was organised by Maerdy Archive and its Secretary, David Owen.  

 

The Reverend Fred Jones (1877-1948) one of the founders of Plaid Cymru

The Reverend Fred Jones (1877-1948) was one of the six founding fathers of Plaid Cymru who launched the party at a historic meeting at Pwllheli in 1925 and one of the famous Cilie family of poets from Ceredigion.  He worked as a minister in Rhymni, Treorci and Tal-y-bont Ceredigion and was a lifelong nationalist.

Dafydd Iwan delivering a lecture on the career of his grandfather, Fred Jones, one of the founding members of Plaid Cymru.  Also in the picture is Ben Lake MP, who took the chair at the Plaid History session on 4 October during the party’s 2019 annual conference in Swansea.

 

Glanmor Bowen-Knight 1945 – 2019: a Tribute

We were sad to hear of the recent death of one of Plaid Cymru’s leading members in the Gwent valleys, Glanmor Bowen-Knight, Tredegar.  The Plaid Cymru History Society extends its deepest sympathy to his sister Rae and the family.  A tribute to Glanmor by his friend Hywel Davies may be read here.

 

GLANMOR BOWEN-KNIGHT: A TRIBUTE

The passing of Plaid Cymru activist and former councillor Glanmor Bowen-Knight of Tredegar was fittingly observed at Llwydcoed Crematorium on Wednesday, 9 October, 2019 in a humanist service attended by a large gathering of family and friends.

Among them were Dafydd Williams, former General Secretary of Plaid Cymru, Jocelyn Davies, former Plaid Assembly Member for South Wales East, and Alun Davies, former Plaid party member and current Labour Assembly Member for Blaenau Gwent.

Though physically challenged from early childhood, and obliged to walk with the aid of sticks, Glanmor was proud to proclaim that in better circumstances he would have been ‘a 6-footer’. Politically, his life of huge dedication to the national movement of Wales confirmed his claim.

A member of Plaid Cymru since the 1960s, Glanmor served in various capacities as an officer of the Tredegar Branch and Ebbw Vale / Blaenau Gwent Constituency committee. He was also a Plaid member of Tredegar Town Council for many years until shortly before his final ill health. By profession, Glanmor was an horologist, having been trained as a young man at St Loye’s college in Exeter. He was well known in Tredegar as the watchmaker and jeweller fastidiously at work for several decades in his corner of the Gus Jones Jewellers shop.

As in his work, so too in politics, Glan used his precise and well organised brain to great effect in helping to build an effective Plaid Cymru party machine in the unpromising birthplace of Nye Bevan.  He delighted in seeing the fruits of his labour, along with that of others, through the emergence from Tredegar of Plaid AM Steffan Lewis – though lost so tragically young – and the near-victory of Plaid in the 2016 National Assembly election in Blaenau Gwent constituency.

Very justifiably, Glanmor was a recipient of a Plaid Cymru Special Contribution Award.

He leaves a sister, Rae, and her husband Charles, and a wide extended family, all of whom were so proud of him and so devoted to his care.  

D. Hywel Davies

Hanes Plaid Cymru