John Winterson Richards
Encyclopedia
John Winterson Richards is a Welsh entrepreneur, writer, and former local councillor.
, he is the son of the late Alun Thomas Richards, a solicitor, and the late Patricia Winterson Richards, an antiques dealer. He was awarded a Bachelor of Laws (Ll.B) degree by the University of Bristol
, where he was resident at Wills Hall
, and a Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Wales Institute of Science and Technology (UWIST). He also attended courses at the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA).
He held his first company directorship at 19, and at 22 founded a consultancy specialising in small business.
He is the author of the Bluffer’s Guide to Small Business and the Xenophobe’s Guide to the Welsh, published by Oval Books
. These two books have between them been reprinted twenty times in English and have been translated into eight other languages.
More recently, he has been a regular contributor to the Mind Your Own Business podcasts and main contributor to that website’s blog.
and Old St Mellons
on Cardiff City Council, becoming the youngest member of that Council. Six months later he was promoted to Shadow Chairman of the City’s Economic Development Committee, then under the Chairmanship of Alun Michael
, MP.
He eventually rose to become, at the age of 31, the last Leader of the Opposition on the City Council before Local Government Reorganisation
. He played an important role in lobbying for that Reorganisation, which established unitary authorities throughout Wales.
He was the only Conservative elected to the new Cardiff County Council in 1995.
He also stood as a Conservative and Unionist in the Rhondda
, the safest Labour seat in the country, in the 1992 General Election. He was not elected but retained his deposit.
His last act in public life was to campaign successfully for the establishment of separate wards of Lisvane and Old St Mellons. Although adopted for the safe Conservative seat of Lisvane, in 1999 he decided to let his membership of the Conservative Party
lapse and not to stand for the Council again.
In 2004, he co-founded Cardiff Independent Citizens as a vehicle for those wishing to stand for the Council as Independents.
Biography
Born in St David’s Hospital, CardiffCardiff
Cardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for...
, he is the son of the late Alun Thomas Richards, a solicitor, and the late Patricia Winterson Richards, an antiques dealer. He was awarded a Bachelor of Laws (Ll.B) degree by the University of Bristol
University of Bristol
The University of Bristol is a public research university located in Bristol, United Kingdom. One of the so-called "red brick" universities, it received its Royal Charter in 1909, although its predecessor institution, University College, Bristol, had been in existence since 1876.The University is...
, where he was resident at Wills Hall
Wills Hall
Wills Hall is one of the nine halls of residence in the University of Bristol. Cresting the Stoke Bishop site on the edge of the Bristol Downs, in Parry's Lane, it houses 340 students in two quadrangles...
, and a Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Wales Institute of Science and Technology (UWIST). He also attended courses at the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA).
He held his first company directorship at 19, and at 22 founded a consultancy specialising in small business.
He is the author of the Bluffer’s Guide to Small Business and the Xenophobe’s Guide to the Welsh, published by Oval Books
Oval Books
Oval Books is a British publishing company responsible for the publishing the critically acclaimed Bluffer's Guide and Xenophobe's Guide series...
. These two books have between them been reprinted twenty times in English and have been translated into eight other languages.
More recently, he has been a regular contributor to the Mind Your Own Business podcasts and main contributor to that website’s blog.
Public life
In 1986, aged 22, he won a by-election for the seat of LisvaneLisvane
Lisvane is an affluent community in the north of Cardiff, the capital of Wales, located north of the city centre. Lisvane is one of the most desirable areas of both Cardiff and Wales, and as of 2011, has an average house price £410,000 with many properties worth in excess of £1 million...
and Old St Mellons
Pontprennau & Old St. Mellons
Pontprennau & Old St Mellons is an electoral ward located in the north-east of Cardiff Wales. It has a population that probably now exceeds 10,000 people due to sustained housebuilding in the Pontprennau section of the division, which is likely to continue for the next 10 years as a major urban...
on Cardiff City Council, becoming the youngest member of that Council. Six months later he was promoted to Shadow Chairman of the City’s Economic Development Committee, then under the Chairmanship of Alun Michael
Alun Michael
Alun Edward Michael is a British Labour Co-operative politician, who has been the Member of Parliament for Cardiff South and Penarth since 1987. He was formerly First Minister of Wales and leader of the Welsh Labour Party from 1999 to 2000.-Education:Michael was born at Bryngwran Anglesey, son of...
, MP.
He eventually rose to become, at the age of 31, the last Leader of the Opposition on the City Council before Local Government Reorganisation
Local Government (Wales) Act 1994
The Local Government Act 1994 is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom which created the current local government structure in Wales of 22 unitary authority areas, referred to as principal areas in the Act, and abolished the previous two-tier structure of counties and districts...
. He played an important role in lobbying for that Reorganisation, which established unitary authorities throughout Wales.
He was the only Conservative elected to the new Cardiff County Council in 1995.
He also stood as a Conservative and Unionist in the Rhondda
Rhondda (UK Parliament constituency)
Rhondda is a parliamentary constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election...
, the safest Labour seat in the country, in the 1992 General Election. He was not elected but retained his deposit.
His last act in public life was to campaign successfully for the establishment of separate wards of Lisvane and Old St Mellons. Although adopted for the safe Conservative seat of Lisvane, in 1999 he decided to let his membership of the Conservative Party
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
lapse and not to stand for the Council again.
In 2004, he co-founded Cardiff Independent Citizens as a vehicle for those wishing to stand for the Council as Independents.
External links
- http://www.ovalbooks.com - Oval Books' home page