Huw T Edwards: 'prime minister of Wales'

Huw T Edwards once described as the unofficial prime minister of Wales.

Today I went in search of this impressive memorial to Huw T Edwards. 'Huw Tom' was a man of the 20th century. He was born into a quarrying family near Penmaenmawr, and also worked in the coal mines of South Wales. In the Great War he was severely injured. However 'Huw Tom' is chiefly remembered as a trade unionist and politician. I came across him earlier this year when my son was studying his papers in the National Library of Wales for an undergraduate dissertation. Although Huw T Edwards hails from the dramatic hills above Penmaenmawr he spent much of his life in Flintshire, serving for many years as a senior figure in the Transport and General Workers Union. He was also a key figure in the Labour Party; his role in the selection of Eirene White as the Labour candidate for the Flintshire constituency in 1945 is worth examining. His private letters seems indicate that he was unsure that Flintshire was ready for a female MP. 'Huw Tom' was a Welsh nationalist, and at times struggled with his 'Labour' politics - he did in fact leave the party to join Plaid Cymru, but after a few years returned to the fold. He was also president of the Welsh Language Society for a time. He was not, it has to be admitted, a typical Flintshire politician. Nevertheless he has strong ties with North East Wales and he deserves further study. His memorial in the centre of Rowen is as impressive and tough as the man himself.