Val Feld
Encyclopedia
Val Feld (October 29, 1947
- July 17, 2001
), was a Welsh
Labour Party
politician.
, Caernarvonshire, she was educated at the Abbey School in Malvern
and in 1969 married John Feld, with whom she had two children. Worked as a journalist in London and in housing advice, working in Lancashire. She became a local Labour councillor in Chorley, Lancashire, and worked as a social worker. In 1981, following the break-up of her marriage, she took a job in her native Wales - founding and becoming the first Director of Shelter Cymru
. In her spare time she studied for an MA at Cardiff University
, and in 1989 was appointed head of the Equal Opportunities Commission
for Wales. She held the post for ten years, until her election as Assembly Member for Swansea East.
from 1999 to July 2001.
Feld holds the distinction of being the first member of the National Assembly for Wales
to die in office and thus cause a by-election (By-election fixed for September 27, 2001)
, but she was also a highly-regarded politician with a history of social activism, and was Chair of the Assembly's Economic Development Committee until May 2001.
First Minister Rhodri Morgan
said of her, "I believe I speak for the whole of Wales when I say that the death of Val Feld is a grievous blow for us all".
1947 in Wales
This article is about the particular significance of the year 1947 to Wales and its people.-Incumbents:*Prince of Wales - vacant*Princess of Wales - vacant*Archbishop of Wales - David Lewis Prosser...
- July 17, 2001
2001 in Wales
This article is about the particular significance of the year 2001 to Wales and its people.-Incumbents:*Prince of Wales - Charles, Prince of Wales*Princess of Wales - vacant*First Minister - Rhodri Morgan...
), was a Welsh
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...
Labour Party
Wales Labour Party
Welsh Labour is the part of the United Kingdom Labour Party that operates in Wales. Labour is the largest and most successful political party in modern Welsh politics, having won the largest share of the vote at every UK General Election since 1922, every Welsh Assembly election since 1999, and...
politician.
Background
Born in BangorBangor, Wales
Bangor is a city in Gwynedd, north west Wales, and one of the smallest cities in Britain. It is a university city with a population of 13,725 at the 2001 census, not including around 10,000 students at Bangor University. Including nearby Menai Bridge on Anglesey, which does not however form part of...
, Caernarvonshire, she was educated at the Abbey School in Malvern
Malvern, Worcestershire
Malvern is a town and civil parish in Worcestershire, England, governed by Malvern Town Council. As of the 2001 census it has a population of 28,749, and includes the historical settlement and commercial centre of Great Malvern on the steep eastern flank of the Malvern Hills, and the former...
and in 1969 married John Feld, with whom she had two children. Worked as a journalist in London and in housing advice, working in Lancashire. She became a local Labour councillor in Chorley, Lancashire, and worked as a social worker. In 1981, following the break-up of her marriage, she took a job in her native Wales - founding and becoming the first Director of Shelter Cymru
Shelter Cymru
Shelter Cymru is the largest independent housing and homelessness charity in Wales. It works in collaboration with the UK charity Shelter. Shelter Cymru has worked in Wales since 1981, and has been an independent organisation since 1986....
. In her spare time she studied for an MA at Cardiff University
Cardiff University
Cardiff University is a leading research university located in the Cathays Park area of Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom. It received its Royal charter in 1883 and is a member of the Russell Group of Universities. The university is consistently recognised as providing high quality research-based...
, and in 1989 was appointed head of the Equal Opportunities Commission
Equal Opportunities Commission
The Equal Opportunities Commission was an independent non-departmental public body, in the United Kingdom, which tackled sex discrimination and promoted gender equality...
for Wales. She held the post for ten years, until her election as Assembly Member for Swansea East.
Political career
Local Labour councillor in Chorley, Lancashire. Treasurer 'Yes for Wales'. Member of the National Assembly for Wales for Swansea EastSwansea East (National Assembly for Wales constituency)
Swansea East is a constituency of the National Assembly for Wales. It elects one Assembly Member by the first past the post method of election...
from 1999 to July 2001.
Feld holds the distinction of being the first 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...
to die in office and thus cause a by-election (By-election fixed for September 27, 2001)
, but she was also a highly-regarded politician with a history of social activism, and was Chair of the Assembly's Economic Development Committee until May 2001.
First Minister Rhodri Morgan
Rhodri Morgan
Hywel Rhodri Morgan is a Welsh Labour politician who, as First Secretary for Wales, and subsequently First Minister, was leader of the Welsh Assembly Government from 2000 to 2009. A former leader of Welsh Labour, he was the Assembly Member for Cardiff West from 1999 to 2011...
said of her, "I believe I speak for the whole of Wales when I say that the death of Val Feld is a grievous blow for us all".