Life of 'one of greatest sons' of Wales to be celebrated

FIFTY years after the death of Llanelli MP Jim Griffiths - a man described as "one of the greatest sons of Wales" a special memorial event will be held in the town.

- STAFF REPORTER

It will be held at Llanelly House in Vaughan Street, Llanelli, on Thursday, August 7, from 10am to 4pm.

It will be a chance for people to learn more about a man described as "Llanelli's forgotten hero".

Mr Griffiths was Llanelli's MP for 34 years. He played a key role in the foundation of the welfare state and was responsible for attracting the tin plate works to Trostre.

In 1964 Prime Minister Harold Wilson appointed him as the first Secretary of State for Wales.

Mr Griffiths was a towering figure in Welsh and British politics, a coalminer who was part of a new wave of politicians who followed the "pit to Parliament" route into politics.

Born in Betws, near Ammanford, the youngest of 10 children, Mr Griffiths left school at 13 to work in the Ammanford No. 1 colliery.

His early experiences in the mines profoundly shaped his lifelong commitment to social justice and the labour movement.

Mr Griffiths' dedication to education continued through night school, and he quickly became involved in socialist politics.