Cardigan People 22: Goronwy Moelwyn-Hughes MP (1897–1955)

Goronwy Moelwyn-Hughes was born in Priory St* on 6 October 1897 the eldest son of the Revd J. G. Moelwyn-Hughes (1866–1944) who was the minister at Tabernacle Chapel. He attended the local schools before heading for UCW Aberystwyth. During WW1 he served with the West Yorkshire regiment, was wounded , transferred to the Royal Flying Corps and served as a pilot (1917–19). He then returned to Aberystwyth, graduated as BA, entered Downing College, Cambridge where he obtained first-class honours in the law tripos. He was called to the bar in 1922. He fought two unsuccessful general elections for the Liberals in the Rhondda in Nov 1934 and Cardiganshire in 1935. He was the elected unopposed at a by-election in Carmarthen in March 1941, a seat he held until 1945. He was then returned as Labour MP for North Islington in 1950 but retired due to ill health in 1951.

He was appointed as a commissioner for inquiry on to the Burnden Park, Bolton football disaster in 1946, when 33 spectators were crushed by the pressure of numbers. He recommended that football grounds be made subject to safety licensing.

*[Llwyn Onn according to the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, but according to 1901 Census Finch’s Sq. The family were living at Glasynys, Priory St. in 1911 (census)]

He frequently returned to Cardigan to visit his parents. Here is an interesting (silent) film he made of his visit in 1933.

https://player.bfi.org.uk/free/film/watch-haf-1933-cardigan-1936-online

2 April (1832) Death of Revd John Herring, Bethania at Llwynpiod

  • 2 1949 (Sat.) 11.30 a.m. Open air meeting of the Cardiganshire Labour Party in Morgan Street. Speakers included A. G. Waite, prospective candidate for Oswestry; Dr A. W. Spencer, president of the Carmarthenshire Labour Party; Iwan Morgan, prospective candidate for Cardiganshire Labour party.
  • 2 1949 (Sat.) Funeral of William Phillips, Pendre at 93 yrs old. He retired at 87 as Head gardener with Mr Berrington Davies, Castle Green and Plas Llangoedmore. Member of Tabernacl. Buried at Llantood.
  • 2 1832 (Mon.) Death of Revd John Herring, Bethania, 43 years old, at his home in Llwynpiod. He was buried at Cilfowyr Friday 6 April. He left a wife (who died shortly afterwards on 22 April) and 7 children.

29 March (1987) Reopening of Tabernacl; (1877) Launching of Cardigan’s last ship

Programme for the Reopening ceremony, 1987
Programme for the Reopening ceremony, 1987

  • 29 1987 (Sun.) Reopening of Tabernacle – rebuilt 1776, 1807, 1832; refurbished 1864, 1902 and 1986.
  • 29 1885 (Sun.) Jane Thomas prop. of the Tivy-side. Buried in St Mary’s Cemetery, Thurs 2 April.
  • 29 1877 (Thurs.) Launching of the MARGARET & ANN (Y Llong Lestri). Last ship built at Cardigan. The owners were Capt. Evan Parry, Tresaith and Owen Jones, merchant, Llangrannog. It was built by Messrs. John Williams and son. 28 tns. (lost off St Anne’s Head 1919).

27 February (1970) Bethania Young People meet George Thomas

  • 27 1970 (Fri.) Bethania Young People visit Cardiff  to see Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. On the Sunday who should come and meet them in Llandaf Road Baptist Chapel but George Thomas the Welsh Secretary of State for Wales and said: ‘ I expect you finished the milking before you came down’?!
  • 27 1953 (Fri.) Concert at Tabernacl: Pontyberem Male Voice Choir and  tenor Geraint Davies.