Biography

I was born in Abersychan, near Pontypool, on December 5th 1947 and was educated at St Francis School, Abersychan, and Mid Gwent College. Between 1968 and 1994 I worked in newspapers and publishing as a journalist, as editor of the Free Press of Monmouthshire, and later as general manager of the Free Press Group of Newspapers. From 1973 to 1995 I served on Gwent County Council, chairing the Finance Committee between 1992 and 1994. My wife Jennifer and I have four children and three grandchildren.

I am a member of MENCAP, MENSA and Amnesty International, and a Papal Knight of the Order of St. Sylvester.

Political Experience

I became a member of the Labour Party at the age of 15, and after serving as a councillor for a number of years, was elected MP for Iswlyn in a by-election in 1995. I was a member of the Welsh Affairs Select Committee from 1996 to 1997, and between 1997 and 2002.

When Labour won office in 1997 I was appointed Parliamentary Private Secretary (PPS) to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, The Rt. Hon. Gordon Brown MP. From 1999-2001 I was the Government whip with special responsibility for Wales. Between 2001 and 2005 I was a Wales Office Minister as Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Wales.

Following a reshuffle after the General Election in 2005, I was appointed the Under Secretary of State for Defence and Minister for Veterans at the Ministry of Defence , serving in that position until May 2006 . I am currently a member of the Public Accounts Commitee (PAC) . In 2006 I was appointed a member of the Privy Council by HM The Queen.

Miners

I have always fought for justice for former miners. While serving as a Wales Office Minister I chaired the Welsh Coal Health Claims Monitoring Group, a body which monitors and, where possible, speeds up compensation payments to former miners whose health has been affected by their time underground. I am currently campaigning to ensure compensation is paid to surface workers.

Community Organisations

Don trying his luck on a coconut shy at the Aberbeeg hospital fete

In addition to my Parliamentary duties I am also involved in a number of community organisations both inside and outside Islwyn. I have listed these groups and the role I play in them below:

I am President of the following

• National Old Age Pensioners Association of Wales
• Caerphilly County Borough Access Group
• Islwyn Community Credit Union
• Home-Start (Caerphilly Borough East)
• Trinant Sports Association
• Blackwood Amateur Operatic Society
• Caerphilly Citzens Advice Bureau
• Newbridge and District Ladies Choir
• Cancercareline
• Newbridge (Celynen) Brass Band
• Gwent Huntington's Disease Support Group

I am the Patron of,

• Risca Male Voice Choir
• Everyones Child Romania
• Welsh Autism Communication Centre
• St David’s Foundation

I am also Vice President of,

• Mynyddislwyn Male Voice Choir
• Crumlin Cricket Club.
• Abercarn Cricket Club
• Islwyn/Pisek Twinning Association