Post by ianwright on Jun 21, 2016 21:42:42 GMT
John Williams was the trade union agent representing the Forest of Dean Miners from 1922 to 1953. His job involved the day to day running of the local union organisation and negotiations with the employers. He worked tirelessly representing the interests of the Forest of Dean miners through the General Strike of 1926, the Depression of the 1930s, the Second World War and nationalisation of the coal mining industry until his retirement in 1953.
John was born in 1888 at Kenfig Hill, near the Gawr Valley. His father was a hewer and his grandfather had worked as a mechanic in the mines. John was sent down the pits at the age of 13 at the International Colliery at Blaengarw where he worked with his father. His brother Emyln was born in 1893 and his sister Minnie was born in 1897. In 1901 the family were living in Llangeinor.
In the years before he got the agency job in the Forest he was very active within the South Wales Miners' Federation (SWMF). He was the SWMF representative at the International Colliery and the Secretary for the Gawr district covering 3,000 men. He was on the Executive of the Mid Glamorgan Labour Party and Chairman of the Bleangawr Workmen's Institute. He also worked at the Ocean colliery and in the Gawr Valley. In 1914 he became a check weigher in 1914 at Cicely Colliery in the Rhondda.
John married Margaret Jane Williams ( whose maiden name was Evans) in the Bridgend District in 1920. I think Margaret Jane Evans was born Pontypridd District 1895. They had two children Dennis (born 1922) and Nest (born 1930)
The family y moved to 52 Belle Vue Road, Cinderford in the Forest of Dean in 1922.
Margaret died in the Forest of Dean on 28 November 1948. John died in the Forest of Dean in March 15 1968,
I am collecting facts and stories about John Williams with the view of writing a short biography. If you have any information about him I would be very grateful if you send it to me. Please note there is a little confusion over his name as he was sometimes called Jack Williams, perhaps to distinguish him from other Welsh union men who were called John Williams. Many thanks iankwright@yahoo.co.uk. I am from the Forest of Dean
John was born in 1888 at Kenfig Hill, near the Gawr Valley. His father was a hewer and his grandfather had worked as a mechanic in the mines. John was sent down the pits at the age of 13 at the International Colliery at Blaengarw where he worked with his father. His brother Emyln was born in 1893 and his sister Minnie was born in 1897. In 1901 the family were living in Llangeinor.
In the years before he got the agency job in the Forest he was very active within the South Wales Miners' Federation (SWMF). He was the SWMF representative at the International Colliery and the Secretary for the Gawr district covering 3,000 men. He was on the Executive of the Mid Glamorgan Labour Party and Chairman of the Bleangawr Workmen's Institute. He also worked at the Ocean colliery and in the Gawr Valley. In 1914 he became a check weigher in 1914 at Cicely Colliery in the Rhondda.
John married Margaret Jane Williams ( whose maiden name was Evans) in the Bridgend District in 1920. I think Margaret Jane Evans was born Pontypridd District 1895. They had two children Dennis (born 1922) and Nest (born 1930)
The family y moved to 52 Belle Vue Road, Cinderford in the Forest of Dean in 1922.
Margaret died in the Forest of Dean on 28 November 1948. John died in the Forest of Dean in March 15 1968,
I am collecting facts and stories about John Williams with the view of writing a short biography. If you have any information about him I would be very grateful if you send it to me. Please note there is a little confusion over his name as he was sometimes called Jack Williams, perhaps to distinguish him from other Welsh union men who were called John Williams. Many thanks iankwright@yahoo.co.uk. I am from the Forest of Dean
