Owen John Thomas
Encyclopedia
Owen John Thomas MA
(born in Cardiff
, 1939) is a former Plaid Cymru
politician who represented the South Wales Central region in the National Assembly for Wales
from 1999 to 2007.
He worked as a deputy head teacher at Gladstone School before being elected to the National Assembly for Wales
. Former chairman of the Cardiff region of UCAC. He has been active in Plaid Cymru since his teens, filling a variety of posts from branch secretary to vice president. In the 1981 Plaid Cymru conference, he succeeded in having 'socialism' included amongst the party's main aims. He is longstanding champion of the campaign for leasehold reform and a founder member of Clwb Ifor Bach
(Cardiff's Welsh Language club) whose president he was from 1983-89. Learned Welsh in his late twenties. He is married to headmistress of Ysgol Glan Morfa, Sblott Sian Wyn Thomas. He has six children and eight grand children.
, representing the South Wales Central region for Plaid Cymru
from 1999 to 2007.
His proudest achievements as an AM include an unsuccessful campaign to have St David's day recognised as a bank holiday, his role in the creation of the Wales Millennium Centre
, an arts venue which opened in 2004, and his campaigns for the Allied Steel and Wire pension fund and to bring brachytherapy, a cancer treatment, to Wales.
He has also stated that he hopes to see the Welsh Assembly gain the same powers as the Scottish parliament by 2011.
He was the National Assembly for Wales Shadow Minister for Culture, and decided when he stood for election in 2003 that this term would be his last. However, he later stood as the Plaid Cymru candidate in next May 2008 Local Elections in Cathays ward in Cardiff.
in his late 20s, has argued for increased promotion of the language, writing in the Western Mail: "The language is a national asset and its revitalisation can play a central part in the larger process of nation building and economic and social regeneration." The former deputy head has also complained that Welsh children are taught "the history of England, not the history of Britain".
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
(born in Cardiff
Cardiff
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...
, 1939) is a former Plaid Cymru
Plaid Cymru
' is a political party in Wales. It advocates the establishment of an independent Welsh state within the European Union. was formed in 1925 and won its first seat in 1966...
politician who represented the South Wales Central region in the National Assembly for Wales
National Assembly for Wales
The National Assembly for Wales is a devolved assembly with power to make legislation in Wales. The Assembly comprises 60 members, who are known as Assembly Members, or AMs...
from 1999 to 2007.
Background
He was born at 110 Albany Rd were his father, John Owen Thomas had a pharmacy from 1928-1985. His father moved to Cardiff from Treorchy where he had a pharmacy after being educated at London and was the youngest pharmacist to graduate in the British Isles. His father's roots go back to North Pembrokeshire where his family were prominent Baptists. His mother, Evelyn, was a farmers' daughter from South Carmarthenshire. Has two older sisters Martha and Elizabeth. He was a pupil at Marlborough Rd School and Howardian Grammar School. He left school and 16 to work down the docks and various other jobs such as a Chemical Analyst. Later attended the Glamorgan College of Education and did masters at the University of Wales, Cardiff about the history of the Welsh Language in Cardiff.He worked as a deputy head teacher at Gladstone School before being elected to the National Assembly for Wales
National Assembly for Wales
The National Assembly for Wales is a devolved assembly with power to make legislation in Wales. The Assembly comprises 60 members, who are known as Assembly Members, or AMs...
. Former chairman of the Cardiff region of UCAC. He has been active in Plaid Cymru since his teens, filling a variety of posts from branch secretary to vice president. In the 1981 Plaid Cymru conference, he succeeded in having 'socialism' included amongst the party's main aims. He is longstanding champion of the campaign for leasehold reform and a founder member of Clwb Ifor Bach
Clwb Ifor Bach
Clwb Ifor Bach is a Cardiff nightclub, music venue, Welsh-language club and community centre. It is known to the Cardiff Welsh-speaking community as Clwb and is often known by others on the Cardiff music scene as The Welsh Club....
(Cardiff's Welsh Language club) whose president he was from 1983-89. Learned Welsh in his late twenties. He is married to headmistress of Ysgol Glan Morfa, Sblott Sian Wyn Thomas. He has six children and eight grand children.
Political career
Member of the National Assembly for WalesNational Assembly for Wales
The National Assembly for Wales is a devolved assembly with power to make legislation in Wales. The Assembly comprises 60 members, who are known as Assembly Members, or AMs...
, representing the South Wales Central region for Plaid Cymru
Plaid Cymru
' is a political party in Wales. It advocates the establishment of an independent Welsh state within the European Union. was formed in 1925 and won its first seat in 1966...
from 1999 to 2007.
His proudest achievements as an AM include an unsuccessful campaign to have St David's day recognised as a bank holiday, his role in the creation of the Wales Millennium Centre
Wales Millennium Centre
Wales Millennium Centre is an arts centre located in the Cardiff Bay area of Cardiff, Wales. The site covers a total area of . Phase 1 of the building was opened during the weekend of the 26–28 November 2004 and phase 2 opened on 22 January 2009 with an inaugural concert...
, an arts venue which opened in 2004, and his campaigns for the Allied Steel and Wire pension fund and to bring brachytherapy, a cancer treatment, to Wales.
He has also stated that he hopes to see the Welsh Assembly gain the same powers as the Scottish parliament by 2011.
He was the National Assembly for Wales Shadow Minister for Culture, and decided when he stood for election in 2003 that this term would be his last. However, he later stood as the Plaid Cymru candidate in next May 2008 Local Elections in Cathays ward in Cardiff.
Welsh language
Mr Thomas, who learned WelshWelsh language
Welsh is a member of the Brythonic branch of the Celtic languages spoken natively in Wales, by some along the Welsh border in England, and in Y Wladfa...
in his late 20s, has argued for increased promotion of the language, writing in the Western Mail: "The language is a national asset and its revitalisation can play a central part in the larger process of nation building and economic and social regeneration." The former deputy head has also complained that Welsh children are taught "the history of England, not the history of Britain".
External links
- http://politics.guardian.co.uk/wales/story/0,,2028366,00.html Guardian Unlimited Article, 7 March 2007, giving details of Assembly Members who are not seeking re-election