Cliff Prothero (Q65241)

Cliff Prothero (1898-1990), Labour Party organizer, was born in Ynysbwl, Glamorgan, and left school at the age of thirteen to work in a coal mine. He became involved in Trade Union activities during the miners' strikes of 1921 and 1926, and also with the Labour Party and in 1942 became the Regional Organiser for the Eastern Counties of Wales. In 1943, he became Organiser for Wales and Secretary of the Welsh Regional Council of the Labour Party. In 1948 he was largely responsible for setting up the Council for Wales and Monmouthshire, and uniting the Labour Parties of North and South Wales. He was a founder member of the Welsh Tourist Board, and served on the Welsh Joint Education Committee, the Broadcasting Council for Wales, and the Social Service Council for Wales. He married Violet Elizabeth Thomas of Pontarddulais, Glamorgan, in 1937. He was awarded an O.B.E. in 1965 for Political and Public Services. He published an autobiography, Recount in 1982.