18 Facts About David Grenfell

David Grenfell represented the Gower constituency for the Labour Party from 1922 to 1959.

David Grenfell's grandfather, John Grenfell, settled in Blaenavon where he became a coal miner, having been born in Sancreed, Cornwall.

David Grenfell was educated at Penyrheol Board Elementary School until 1893, when, at the age of 12, he was forced to start working as a coal miner underground himself.

David Grenfell taught at a number of evening classes himself from 1907 to 1911, and was named a miners' agent in 1916 for the Western Region of the South Wales Area of the Coalminer's Federation upon the death of his predecessor, William Morgan.

In December 1905 David Grenfell married Beatrice May Morgan, daughter of John and Emma Morgan of Mountain Cottage, Brynteg, Gorseinon.

David Grenfell continued to work underground until 1916, when he was appointed the miners agent for the Western Region of the South Wales Area.

David Grenfell became active in the local Labour Party in 1916; and in 1920 he was adopted prospective candidate for the Gower constituency.

David Grenfell was elected Member of Parliament in a by-election in 1922, and held the seat until 1959.

David Grenfell was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1935.

David Grenfell acted as chairman of the Welsh Parliamentary Labour Party, and in Winston Churchill's coalition government during World War II he served as Secretary for Mines at the Board of Trade, in which capacity he argued for the nationalisation of the coal industry, and reiterated the call in his 1947 book, Coal.

From 1948 to 1951 David Grenfell was Chairman of the Welsh Tourist Holiday Board; and while holding that post he saw Gower become the first area of Britain to be designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

In 1953 David Grenfell became the first Labour politician to hold the title "Father of the House", as the longest continual serving Parliamentarian.

In 1954, at Churchill's 80th birthday ceremony in Westminster Hall, David Grenfell presented Churchill with an illuminated book signed by nearly every member of Parliament.

David Grenfell has been a great leader in our greatest national trial.

David Grenfell held office in many local bodies, and was made an Honorary Freeman of Swansea for his contribution to public service.

David Grenfell was succeeded as Member of Parliament for Gower by his former agent, County Councillor Ifor Davies of Gowerton, who held the Gower seat until his death in 1982.

David Grenfell died on 20 November 1968 aged 87, and is buried at Brynteg Cemetery, Gorseinon.

David Grenfell's wife, Beatrice, who was a county magistrate, died in 1976, followed by their daughter Eileen.