Phil Williams
Encyclopedia
Professor Philip James Stradling Williams (11 January 1939 – 10 June 2003) was a Welsh
politician
for Plaid Cymru
and scientist
.
in the industrial valleys of south Wales and grew up in Bargoed
, another industrial town. He was educated at Lewis School Pengam and Clare College, University of Cambridge
and became a leading space scientist. He was appointed Professor of Solar Terrestrial Physics at the University College of Wales, Aberystwyth
, and simultaneously became economic spokesman for Plaid Cymru
.
From 1999 to 2003, he was a Member of the National Assembly for Wales
for the electoral region of South Wales East. Williams also stood for election in Blaenau Gwent
in 1999 and got 21% of the vote.
from the observatory
near the North Pole
. In 2001, he was voted Welsh Politician of the Year, and he was being pressured by former colleagues to become the next president of his party, following the resignation of Ieuan Wyn Jones
as president. Shortly after standing down from the Welsh Assembly he suffered a heart attack
while visiting the "A Touch of Class" (now known as Twice as Nice) massage parlour in Cardiff and was pronounced dead shortly afterwards.
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
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...
and scientist
Scientist
A scientist in a broad sense is one engaging in a systematic activity to acquire knowledge. In a more restricted sense, a scientist is an individual who uses the scientific method. The person may be an expert in one or more areas of science. This article focuses on the more restricted use of the word...
.
Background
Williams was born in TredegarTredegar
Tredegar is a town situated on the Sirhowy River in the county borough of Blaenau Gwent, in south-east Wales. Located within the historic boundaries of Monmouthshire, it became an early centre of the Industrial Revolution in South Wales...
in the industrial valleys of south Wales and grew up in Bargoed
Bargoed
Bargoed is a town in the Rhymney Valley, Wales, one of the South Wales Valleys. It lies on the Rhymney River in the county borough of Caerphilly and straddles ancient boundary of Glamorgan and Monmouthshire. 'Greater Bargoed', as defined by the local authority Caerphilly County Borough Council,...
, another industrial town. He was educated at Lewis School Pengam and Clare College, University of Cambridge
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
and became a leading space scientist. He was appointed Professor of Solar Terrestrial Physics at the University College of Wales, Aberystwyth
University of Wales, Aberystwyth
Aberystwyth University is a university located in Aberystwyth, Wales. Aberystwyth was a founding Member Institution of the former federal University of Wales. As of late 2006, the university had over 12,000 students spread across seventeen academic departments.The university was founded in 1872 as...
, and simultaneously became economic spokesman 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...
.
Political career
He contested the 1968 Caerphilly by-election and became the first Chairman of Plaid Cymru in 1970, a post he held until 1976; when he became Vice President of the party. He was responsible for policy and research in the party for many years.From 1999 to 2003, he was a Member of 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...
for the electoral region of South Wales East. Williams also stood for election in Blaenau Gwent
Blaenau Gwent (National Assembly for Wales constituency)
Blaenau Gwent is a constituency of the National Assembly for Wales. It elects one Assembly Member by the first past the post method of election...
in 1999 and got 21% of the vote.
Return to science and death
He stood down as an Assembly Member in 2003 to work on a research project to study the inner workings of the sunSun
The Sun is the star at the center of the Solar System. It is almost perfectly spherical and consists of hot plasma interwoven with magnetic fields...
from the observatory
Observatory
An observatory is a location used for observing terrestrial or celestial events. Astronomy, climatology/meteorology, geology, oceanography and volcanology are examples of disciplines for which observatories have been constructed...
near the North Pole
North Pole
The North Pole, also known as the Geographic North Pole or Terrestrial North Pole, is, subject to the caveats explained below, defined as the point in the northern hemisphere where the Earth's axis of rotation meets its surface...
. In 2001, he was voted Welsh Politician of the Year, and he was being pressured by former colleagues to become the next president of his party, following the resignation of Ieuan Wyn Jones
Ieuan Wyn Jones
Ieuan Wyn Jones, AM is a Welsh politician, who was the Deputy First Minister in the Welsh Assembly Government from 2007 until 2011. Jones is the current leader of Plaid Cymru and Member of the National Assembly for Wales for the Ynys Môn constituency...
as president. Shortly after standing down from the Welsh Assembly he suffered a heart attack
Myocardial infarction
Myocardial infarction or acute myocardial infarction , commonly known as a heart attack, results from the interruption of blood supply to a part of the heart, causing heart cells to die...
while visiting the "A Touch of Class" (now known as Twice as Nice) massage parlour in Cardiff and was pronounced dead shortly afterwards.
External links
- Rishbeth, Henry. "Obituary: P J S Williams 1939-2003", Astronomy & Geophysics, 44(5), 2003.
- Plaid Cymru - the Party of Wales Website