A comprehensive compilation of facts about every candidate, successful and unsuccessful, who contested Welsh constituencies for Westminster, Europe and the National Assembly for Wales from the general election of 1885 to the European election of 2004.

Llyfr cynhwysfawr o wybodaeth am bob un ymgeisydd a gystadlodd i gynrychioli seddau Cymreig yn San Steffan, Ewrop, a'r Cynulliad Cenedlaethol o etholiad cyffredinol 1885 hyd etholiad Ewropeaidd 2004.

This book is a remarkable work of research and a tribute to a scholar’s dedication to a lifelong task. The Reverend Ivor Thomas Rees developed a consuming interest in ‘the people who contest elections’ as a schoolboy in the Rhondda in the 1940s and it led him, while pursuing his calling as an Independent Minister, to research into all elections in Wales for 120 years and to chronicle each candidate - an astonishing achievement.

Presented in alphabetical order, and with photographs of many of the candidates alongside each entry, it is very easy to find any individual. The Revd. Thomas Rees does not claim to present an exhaustive account of each candidate but his research in journals, historical documents and by approaching candidates or their families whenever possible, has produced a great deal of information about each one. It is a reference book which will be a great help to all who study Welsh political history.

Also, for the ordinary reader, and for those of us who shared the Reverend Thomas Rees’s experiences in the Rhondda/Cynon valleys in those heady, pre-TV days when hustings were packed with people and candidates had to be heard over the crowds of interested listeners and hecklers, looking through this book brings back many memories of the ‘Oh, yes – I remember him, so that’s what happened afterwards’ kind. Dipping in to the book, one comes across people like Hilary Marquand, with a long entry of offices held and books written, and my own erstwhile MP Arthur Probert (who showed me around the House of Commons in the 60s and introduced me to Barbara Castle) and a lovely picture and entry for ‘Jim’ Griffiths. Young candidates of the past five years mingle in these pages with those of generations ago like ‘Kit’ Mansel Thomas, Liberal MP for Glamorgan from 1830 to 1885.

There is a wealth of information in this book and it is not surprising that the author’s card index of political figures in the UK from 1918 and in Wales from 1885 is lodged in the political archives at the National Library of Wales.

Beryl Thomas

It is possible to use this review for promotional purposes, but the following acknowledgement should be included: A review from www.gwales.com, with the permission of the Welsh Books Council.

Gellir defnyddio’r adolygiad hwn at bwrpas hybu, ond gofynnir i chi gynnwys y gydnabyddiaeth ganlynol: Adolygiad oddi ar www.gwales.com, trwy ganiatad Cyngor Llyfrau Cymru.