Academic Lectures
This article focuses on his political involvement since his early days as a miner in the Amman Valley in Carmarthenshire till his retirement to Teddington, Middlesex in 1970. He became an influential trade Union leader within the South wales Miners Union till 1936 and the death of Dr J H Williams MP for Llanelli. It goes on to explain his efforts in Parliament and within the Labour Movement as well.
The University of Wales commissioned David Griffiths, MBE of Cardiff to paint Cledwyn Hughes in this portrait as a tribute for all he did as a leading representative on the University courts and for his diplomacy and influence when the administrators, academics needed assistance on a host of issues which have been scrutinised in the welsh Language biography of him by one who knew him so well, Rev Professor Dr D Ben Rees.
Cledwyn Hughes adored Jim Griffiths and followed him in 1966 as the Minister of State for Wales. Hughes embodied Welsh Non-conformity in all issues and his love for the Welsh Language and culture was evident to all of his electorate in Anglesey.
This is the account of the close relationship between father and son in religion, interests, concerns but not in political parties. H D Hughes was a fervent member of the Liberal Party as most Welsh Non-conformists were and so was his son as a student in the University in Aberystwyth. However, when he came back to his home town of Holyhead in 1936 after graduating and witnessed the unemployment in the port he switched sides.
This is based on the early involvement of Bessie Braddock on the City Council with her fellow left- wing rebels, Sydney S Silverman and her husband Jack Braddock, mainly on the issue of selling by the city Council of Brownlow Hill workhouse to the Roman Catholic Church on a bargain price.
The Early Welsh Connection with Liverpool. One of the earliest pieces which Dr Rees wrote on one of his specialities, History of the Liverpool welsh community which has not been published in his numerous books. It is well worth taking 20 minutes of your time to read it all and make notes. But if you use any of the material please acknowledge the academic who researched and brought it altogether into an article which will help you to understand the Welsh connection.
