Centenary Of Lloyd George Becoming Prime Minister

A hundred years ago to this week, at the height of the Great War, David Lloyd George became Prime Minister. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The ‘Welsh Wizard’ was already famous as the Chancellor who introduced the state pension and as a leading figure of Herbert Asquith’s liberal government when he was invited to form a government in December 1916. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The man brought up by his uncle in Llanystumdwy, and who was elected MP for the Caernarfon Boroughs constituency in 1890, was the first and only Welshman to hold the office of British Prime Minister. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

He was one of the signatories of the Versailles Treaty in 1919 after the end of the First World War, and remained as Prime Minister until 1922. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

At such an historic occasion, local schoolchilren are enjoying a range of activities at the Lloyd George Museum and Highgate, his childhood home, in Llanystumdwy. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Pupils can see how children celebrated Christmas during the time David Lloyd George was growing up in the village, and they will get an opportunity to wear costumes from the period. They can also do traditional handicrafts with Marian Grace Jones. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Lloyd George Museum contains a wealth of political artifacts belonging to the politician renowned as one of the most eloquent and inspiring orators in history. Highgate is furnished as it was when Lloyd George lived there, and his grave is also on the banks of the river Dwyfor in the village. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“David Lloyd George was one of the most famous Welshmen ever, and it is right and proper that we mark such an historic occasion,” said Nest Thomas, Gwynedd Council Museums and Arts Manager. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“He had already built a reputation as an eloquent politician and social reformer when he reached the zenith of his career in December 1916. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“His connection with Gwynedd is well-known to all local people, and his name has had legendary status for generations. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“With him being such a powerful man, it is inevitable that he was also a controversial figure in many ways, but there is no doubt whatsoever about his ability and talent. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“The pride of having such a remarkable man as ‘one of us’ will certainly continue in Gwynedd for many more years to come.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​