Lord Geraint of Ponterwyd

Liberal MP in Ceredigion for 18 years

Born:

1925

Died:

2004

Place of Birth:

Ponterwyd

School:

Ardwyn Grammer School, Aberystwyth

Biography:

Born and brought up in Ponterwyd, Geraint Howells was a farmer who became one of Ceredigion's best-known politicians.

After leaving school, he began his working life on the family farm in Ponterwyd, on the slopes of the Pumlumon mountains. He continued to farm there all his life - but it was in the world of politics that he made his name.

His political career began at a young age when he was elected as a councillor on the former Cardiganshire County Council.

In 1974, he stood as the Liberal Party candidate in the General Election and became the Member of Parliament for the then constituency of Cardigan.

He went on to represent the area from 1974 until 1992 and for several years was leader of his party in Wales. During this time, the name of his constituency changed to Ceredigion and North Pembrokeshire and his party went from being the Liberals to the SDP then the Liberal Democrats.

In the seventies, during the period of the Lib Lab pact, he played a major role in persuading the then Agriculture Minister John Silkin to recognise the Farmers Union of Wales.

In one of the shock results of the 1992 General Election, Geraint Howells lost his seat to Plaid Cymru's Cynog Dafis. Despite his defeat, he maintained his links with Westminster and was created a Life Peer. As Lord Geraint of Ponterwyd, he was an active member of the House of Lords and one of its Deputy Speakers for a while.

A strong supporter of devolution and the Welsh language, Lord Geraint was also a member of the National Eisteddfod's Gorsedd of Bards and a past President of the Royal Welsh Agricultural Show.

He was very active in his local community, spearheading several fund-raising campaigns. He was also the Secretary of the Ponterwyd Eisteddfod for sixty years.

After a long illness, he died on 17 April 2004 at the age of 79.

Paying tribute to Lord Geraint, the leader of the Liberal Democrats Charles Kennedy described him as a "treasured Celtic cousin". "With Geraint's passing our party has lost a good and instrumental figure - and his beloved Wales has lost an authentic son of its soil," he said.

your comments

Ivor Howells, now of Manchester
The Byron Howells that Angela refers to was my late father, born in 1940, and the Geraint in the photo was his younger brother, not the same person as Lord Geraint. My father idolised Dan Jones, and helped him collate and publish the book in 1956. He often told us of their times together. I would love to see the translated version and assist with your research.
Wed Apr 18 09:25:52 2007

Angela from Chepstow
Does anyone know if the late Lib Dem MP for Ceredigion, Lord Geraint of Ponterwyd had a brother called Byron. Any information would be appreciated, as I am currently researching a book written by an ancestor of mine that was written with the help of "my remarkable partner" Byron. The book itself shows a photo of Dan Jones, Byron and Geraint Howells, and is based on the mining history of mid wales, in particular Goginan and Ponterwyd. Any help or information would be appreciated.
Fri Sep 16 12:35:20 2005

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