Bridging the Red and the Green - Huw T: Prif Weinidog Answyddogol Cymru

Thu, 12 Jul 07 12:39:00

Among all the talk and discussion about coalitions in the National Assembly between the Red and the Green, a new publication throws light on the life of one man who contributed to the formation of the Assembly. A man who was part of the campaigns of Plaid Cymru and the Labour party and who was known as ‘Prif Weinidog Answyddogol Cymru’ (the unofficial Prime Minister of Wales) – Huw T Edwards.

Huw T was described as ‘the complete Welshman’, ‘the truly representative Welshman’, and ‘Chymro mwyaf cyffrous ei ddydd’ (the most exciting Welshman of his day), and spent a large part of his life campaigning for a Parliament for Wales. According to the author of Prif Weinidog Answyddogol Cymru, Gwyn Jenkins, “Huw T’s contribution to the development of Wales as a nation during the 2th century was extemely important and the process of devolution would have been very different were it not for his work.’

At the end of the 1940s, Huw T Edwards was appointed chairman of the Council for Wales – a toothless body set up by the new Labour government. He worked tirelessly from then on campaigning for a Parliament for Wales trying to unite the various parties to support devolution. In 1959, frustrated by the Labour Party’s attitude towards devolution for Wales, he joined Plaid Cymru before rejoining Labour in 1964.

According to Gwyn Jenkins, 'His commitment to the language and culture of his nation was unwavering … and although a committed socialist and a strong nationalist, he was enlightened enough to take every opportunity to work contructively for the nation.’

'Prif Weinidog Answyddogol Cymru: Cofiant Huw T Edwards' is published by Y Lolfa and available in Welsh only. It will be launched on Friday 13 July at The National Library of Wales at 5.30pm. The author, Gwyn Jenkins, is from Penparcau, Aberystwyth but now lives in Tal-y-bont and is Director of Collection Services at The National Library of Wales. He was the editor of the Library’s Llyfr y Ganrif (a book to commemorate the 20th century) which was published by the Library and Y Lolfa.

'Prif Weinidog Answyddogol Cymru: Cofiant Huw T Edwards', £14.95

Gwyn Jenkins

To buy a copy visit the Library shop or oder a copy by phoning +44 (0) 1970 632 548 or emailing hns@llgc.org.uk

For More Information:

Gwyn Jenkins: 01970 832 560  gwyn.jenkins@llgc.org.uk

Siôn Jobbins, NLW Press Office: 09170 632 902 sij@llgc.org.uk