Brynle Williams
Encyclopedia
Brynle Williams was a North Wales Assembly Member (AM) for the Welsh Conservative Party
in the National Assembly for Wales
. Elected from the North Wales Regional list
, he was Shadow Minister for Rural Affairs from 2007-2011. Williams, who was a farmer from North Wales, was a colourful political figure who was respected for his straight talking and campaigning on rural issues; although privately he admitted he never saw himself as a politician.
Williams rise to prominence began in 1997-98 when he joined protesters blockading the Port of Holyhead
on Anglesey
over the importation of Irish beef. He later became a leader in the UK fuel protests in 2000.
Williams had also been the Conservative spokesman for Environment, Planning and Countryside and Local Government in the Second Assembly (2003–07), during which time he was Chair of the North Wales Regional Committee. During his time in the assembly he carved out a role as a champion of farming and rural affairs.
Following the news of his death, First Minister and Welsh Labour leader, Carwyn Jones
described Williams as a "colourful" but "tough battler". Welsh Conservative leader Nick Bourne
said he was "immensely popular" across all parties and UK Prime Minister David Cameron
called him a "straight talker and a great loss to the assembly and to Wales".
, Flintshire
, began work in the agricultural industry aged 15. As well as being a sheep and cattle farmer, he was also a renowned expert and international judge of Welsh cobs (ponies).
For more than 20 years, Williams was a member of the Livestock Committee of the Royal Welsh Agricultural Society that organises the Royal Welsh Show
In 2010, he realised a lifetime ambition when he was given the honour of judging the supreme champion at the RWS. In total he missed only six Royal Welsh shows in 45 years.
Williams was also Chairman of Flintshire County Farmers Union of Wales for eight years, a lifetime member of the Welsh Pony and Cob Society and President of the Denbighshire and Flintshire Agricultural Society.
Brynle Williams died after being diagnosed with colon cancer in the summer of 2011. He was married and had a son and daughter.
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...
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...
. Elected from the North Wales Regional list
National Assembly for Wales election, 2007
The 2007 National Assembly election was held on Thursday 3 May 2007 to elect members to the National Assembly for Wales. It was the third general election. On the same day local elections in England and Scotland, and the Scottish Parliament election took place...
, he was Shadow Minister for Rural Affairs from 2007-2011. Williams, who was a farmer from North Wales, was a colourful political figure who was respected for his straight talking and campaigning on rural issues; although privately he admitted he never saw himself as a politician.
Williams rise to prominence began in 1997-98 when he joined protesters blockading the Port of Holyhead
Holyhead
Holyhead is the largest town in the county of Anglesey in the North Wales. It is also a major port adjacent to the Irish Sea serving Ireland....
on Anglesey
Anglesey
Anglesey , also known by its Welsh name Ynys Môn , is an island and, as Isle of Anglesey, a county off the north west coast of Wales...
over the importation of Irish beef. He later became a leader in the UK fuel protests in 2000.
Political career
Williams was first elected to the Welsh Assembly on 1 May 2003 and was re-elected in 2007; serving until his death in 2011. He was Shadow Minister for Rural Affairs from 14 July 2007 and sat on the Sustainability, Rural Development, and Standards committees.Williams had also been the Conservative spokesman for Environment, Planning and Countryside and Local Government in the Second Assembly (2003–07), during which time he was Chair of the North Wales Regional Committee. During his time in the assembly he carved out a role as a champion of farming and rural affairs.
Following the news of his death, First Minister and Welsh Labour leader, Carwyn Jones
Carwyn Jones
Carwyn Howell Jones is a Welsh politician and the First Minister of Wales. The third official to lead the Welsh Government, Jones has been Assembly Member for Bridgend since 1999. In the coalition government of Welsh Labour and Plaid Cymru, he was appointed Counsel General for Wales and Leader of...
described Williams as a "colourful" but "tough battler". Welsh Conservative leader Nick Bourne
Nick Bourne
Nicholas Henry Bourne is a Welsh Conservative politician. He served as the Leader of the Welsh Conservative Party and as a member of the National Assembly for Wales for the Mid and West Wales electoral region from August 1999 until May 2011...
said he was "immensely popular" across all parties and UK Prime Minister David Cameron
David Cameron
David William Donald Cameron is the current Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, First Lord of the Treasury, Minister for the Civil Service and Leader of the Conservative Party. Cameron represents Witney as its Member of Parliament ....
called him a "straight talker and a great loss to the assembly and to Wales".
Personal life
Williams, who was born and raised in CilcainCilcain
Cilcain is a small community, near Mold in Flintshire, north-east Wales. The village has an industrial history and includes the Millennium Woods, a post office, a public house, a parish church and a village hall....
, Flintshire
Flintshire
Flintshire is a county in north-east Wales. It borders Denbighshire, Wrexham and the English county of Cheshire. It is named after the historic county of Flintshire, which had notably different borders...
, began work in the agricultural industry aged 15. As well as being a sheep and cattle farmer, he was also a renowned expert and international judge of Welsh cobs (ponies).
For more than 20 years, Williams was a member of the Livestock Committee of the Royal Welsh Agricultural Society that organises the Royal Welsh Show
Royal Welsh Show
The Royal Welsh Show is the biggest agricultural show in Europe. It is organised by the Royal Welsh Agricultural Society, which was formed in 1904, and takes place in July of each year, at Llanelwedd, near Builth Wells, in Powys, Mid Wales....
In 2010, he realised a lifetime ambition when he was given the honour of judging the supreme champion at the RWS. In total he missed only six Royal Welsh shows in 45 years.
Williams was also Chairman of Flintshire County Farmers Union of Wales for eight years, a lifetime member of the Welsh Pony and Cob Society and President of the Denbighshire and Flintshire Agricultural Society.
Brynle Williams died after being diagnosed with colon cancer in the summer of 2011. He was married and had a son and daughter.
External links
- Official Site
- Member Profile at the National Assembly for Wales
- Welsh Conservatives Website
- BBC obituary
- BBC News Welsh Farmer behind Protest
- Transaction 2007 Fuel Protest Site