Annie Powell
Encyclopedia
Annie Powell was a Welsh
Communist
politician
.
Born in Rhondda
and educated at Pentre Grammar School, Powell became interested in politics while at Glamorgan Training College, Barry, in the 1920s. It was while undertaking taking teacher training during the period of the 1926 General Strike that Annie Powell first became interested in politics and when she started teaching at Trebanog
she witnessed the great degree of poverty faced by the schoolchildren and their families: "The poverty of the children hit me really hard". She joined the Labour Party
, but was impressed by the emphasis laid on theory and action by the Communist Party of Great Britain
(CPGB). After long consideration, she put aside her non-conformist religious background and joined the CPGB in 1938.
She remained a teacher
and became active in the National Union of Teachers
, while contesting Rhondda East
for the party at several general election
s from 1955. At the general election of 1959 she secured 4,580 votes. Powell was not only a Welsh-speaker but also taught in Welsh. She sat on the Welsh Committee of the CPGB, and at one time was its women's organiser. In 1960, she was a CPGB delegate at a major conference of communist parties in Moscow
, where she claimed to have impressed Nikita Khrushchev
with her rendition of "Hen Wlad fy Nhadau
", the national anthem
of Wales. Perhaps as a result of this meeting, she became a supporter of Khrushchev's ideas within the CPGB.
In 1955, after thirteen attempts, Powell was elected as a Communist councillor for Penygraig
, losing in 1957. In 1961, Powell was re-elected as a councillor
in Rhondda. She served on the council for the next twenty years, and in 1979 was appointed mayor
. As such, she is often said to have been Britain's only Communist mayor, although Finlay Hart
had held an equivalent post as provost
in Clydebank
and Joe Vaughan
in Stepney
can also claim to be the first Communist mayor in Britain.
She stated in one interview that she had learnt valuable lessons from such Communists as Arthur Horner
, Harry Pollitt
, Will Paynter
, Jack Davies, and the South Walian Jack Jones.
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...
Communist
Communism
Communism is a social, political and economic ideology that aims at the establishment of a classless, moneyless, revolutionary and stateless socialist society structured upon common ownership of the means of production...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
.
Born in Rhondda
Rhondda
Rhondda , or the Rhondda Valley , is a former coal mining valley in Wales, formerly a local government district, consisting of 16 communities built around the River Rhondda. The valley is made up of two valleys, the larger Rhondda Fawr valley and the smaller Rhondda Fach valley...
and educated at Pentre Grammar School, Powell became interested in politics while at Glamorgan Training College, Barry, in the 1920s. It was while undertaking taking teacher training during the period of the 1926 General Strike that Annie Powell first became interested in politics and when she started teaching at Trebanog
Trebanog
Trebanog is a village lying on the southernmost outskirts of the Rhondda Valley, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales, located off the A4233 road between Porth the unoficial capital of the Rhondda, and the town of Tonyrefail which is at the head of the Ely Valley...
she witnessed the great degree of poverty faced by the schoolchildren and their families: "The poverty of the children hit me really hard". She joined the Labour Party
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
, but was impressed by the emphasis laid on theory and action by the Communist Party of Great Britain
Communist Party of Great Britain
The Communist Party of Great Britain was the largest communist party in Great Britain, although it never became a mass party like those in France and Italy. It existed from 1920 to 1991.-Formation:...
(CPGB). After long consideration, she put aside her non-conformist religious background and joined the CPGB in 1938.
She remained a teacher
Teacher
A teacher or schoolteacher is a person who provides education for pupils and students . The role of teacher is often formal and ongoing, carried out at a school or other place of formal education. In many countries, a person who wishes to become a teacher must first obtain specified professional...
and became active in the National Union of Teachers
National Union of Teachers
The National Union of Teachers is a trade union for school teachers in England, Wales, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man. It is a member of the Trades Union Congress...
, while contesting Rhondda East
Rhondda East (UK Parliament constituency)
Rhondda East was a parliamentary constituency which returned one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons to the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1918 until 1974...
for the party at several general election
General election
In a parliamentary political system, a general election is an election in which all or most members of a given political body are chosen. The term is usually used to refer to elections held for a nation's primary legislative body, as distinguished from by-elections and local elections.The term...
s from 1955. At the general election of 1959 she secured 4,580 votes. Powell was not only a Welsh-speaker but also taught in Welsh. She sat on the Welsh Committee of the CPGB, and at one time was its women's organiser. In 1960, she was a CPGB delegate at a major conference of communist parties in Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
, where she claimed to have impressed Nikita Khrushchev
Nikita Khrushchev
Nikita Sergeyevich Khrushchev led the Soviet Union during part of the Cold War. He served as First Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union from 1953 to 1964, and as Chairman of the Council of Ministers, or Premier, from 1958 to 1964...
with her rendition of "Hen Wlad fy Nhadau
Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau
Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau is the national anthem of Wales. The title – taken from the first words of the song – means "Old Land of My Fathers", usually rendered in English as simply "Land of My Fathers". The words were written by Evan James and the tune composed by his son, James James, both residents...
", the national anthem
National anthem
A national anthem is a generally patriotic musical composition that evokes and eulogizes the history, traditions and struggles of its people, recognized either by a nation's government as the official national song, or by convention through use by the people.- History :Anthems rose to prominence...
of Wales. Perhaps as a result of this meeting, she became a supporter of Khrushchev's ideas within the CPGB.
In 1955, after thirteen attempts, Powell was elected as a Communist councillor for Penygraig
Penygraig
Penygraig is a village and community in the Rhondda Valley in the county borough of Rhondda Cynon Taf, within the historic county boundaries of Glamorgan, Wales...
, losing in 1957. In 1961, Powell was re-elected as a councillor
Councillor
A councillor or councilor is a member of a local government council, such as a city council.Often in the United States, the title is councilman or councilwoman.-United Kingdom:...
in Rhondda. She served on the council for the next twenty years, and in 1979 was appointed mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
. As such, she is often said to have been Britain's only Communist mayor, although Finlay Hart
Finlay Hart
Finlay Hart was a Scottish communist politician.Born in Clydebank, Hart attended Clydebank High School. He became politically active when he joined the Workers International Industrial Union in 1915 while working at the William Beardmore and Company shipyard, in Dalmuir...
had held an equivalent post as provost
Provost (civil)
A provost is the ceremonial head of many Scottish local authorities, and under the name prévôt was a governmental position of varying importance in Ancien Regime France.-History:...
in Clydebank
Clydebank
Clydebank is a town in West Dunbartonshire, in the Central Lowlands of Scotland. Situated on the north bank of the River Clyde, Clydebank borders Dumbarton, the town with which it was combined to form West Dunbartonshire, as well as the town of Milngavie in East Dunbartonshire, and the Yoker and...
and Joe Vaughan
Joe Vaughan
Joe Vaughan is a Canadian recording engineer, musician, and currently, professor of audio engineering in the Music Industry Arts program at Fanshawe College. He is also a founder and co-owner of EMAC Recording Studios in London, Ontario.-Biography:...
in Stepney
Stepney
Stepney is a district of the London Borough of Tower Hamlets in London's East End that grew out of a medieval village around St Dunstan's church and the 15th century ribbon development of Mile End Road...
can also claim to be the first Communist mayor in Britain.
She stated in one interview that she had learnt valuable lessons from such Communists as Arthur Horner
Arthur Horner (politician)
Arthur Lewis Horner was a Welsh trade union leader and communist politician. During his periods of office as President of the South Wales Miners Federation from 1936, and as General Secretary of the National Union of Mineworkers from 1946, he became one of the most prominent and influential...
, Harry Pollitt
Harry Pollitt
Harry Pollitt was the head of the trade union department of the Communist Party of Great Britain and the General Secretary of the party for more than 20 years.- Early life :...
, Will Paynter
Will Paynter
William Thomas Paynter was a Welsh miners' leader involved in the hunger marches of the 1930s.Paynter was born in Cardiff, where he had a basic education before going to work at a colliery at the age of fourteen. By the age of eighteen, he was working on the coal-face, and soon joined the...
, Jack Davies, and the South Walian Jack Jones.