The Lloyd George Society is a loose combination of like minds that meets in Wales for a weekend school on topical subjects, historical issues (particularly those relating to David Lloyd George) or interesting questions affecting Welsh life and culture, all from a liberal perspective. The Society usually meets once a year in February, avoiding the dates of rugby football internationals.
The schools have been taking place for over 50 years. Originally designed for Welsh Liberal parliamentary candidates to debate policy and topical questions, to help them prepare for the election trail, the schools have developed away from this specific purpose and now provide an informal forum for participants to hear interesting talks, take part in discussions and meet friends, old and new.
The schools have always tried to attract speakers expert in their field to provide plenty of food for thought and a leavening of controversy but the schools are best enjoyed for their good fellowship with many members who have attended regularly for decades.
Despite the origins of the Society, we are not formally affiliated to the Liberal Democrats. We welcome supporters and speakers at the weekend school who belong to other political parties or anyone who has an interest in Wales, history or current affairs. Obviously however, our liberal history strongly informs the range of topics on the school's agenda. In addition our Vice Presidents are Liberal Democrat parliamentarians.
Everyone at the Lloyd George Society would like to wish everyone with an interest in the life, career and family of David Lloyd George and all visitors our site a very merry Christmas and all our best wishes for a happy and healthy New Year.
And if you have not booked yet for our weekend school at Llandrindod Wells from 17-19 February, do hurry and sign up for a stimulating, entertaining and friendly weekend.
Professor Russell Deacon of the Lloyd George Society, together with the artist Dan Peterson, have created what they believe to be the first set Welsh historical playing cards. The set of 54 cards, produced from hand-drawn portraits includes three prime ministers and all three political Lloyd Georges, as well as many other Liberal figures such as former party leader Clement Davies, former Vice-President of the LG Society, the late Richard Livsey and current leader of the Welsh party, Kirsty Williams AM.
From the Facebook page of the Liberal Democrat History Group, here is the link to a number of YouTube clips about or featuring David Lloyd George, which Dr Mark Pack has put together.
One clip shows King George V entertaining LG and his government after the Irish settlement of1922. How many of Lloyd George's ministerial colleagues can you name as the camera pans past? Spot Stanley Baldwin standing smugly at the back, knowing his turn to be at the front will soon be coming!
Anthony Seldon, biographer of Tony Blair, is an authority on contemporary British history and headmaster of Wellington College, one of Britain's most famous independent schools. He was a co-founder and first director of the Institute of Contemporary British History and the author or editor of over 25 books on contemporary history, politics and education. Now, in an interview with online book reviewers The Browser, Seldon has chosen John Grigg's four volume biography of Lloyd George as one the five best biographies in the field.
The Society is delighted to report that the Rt. Hon Cheryl Gillan MP, Secretary of State for Wales, has agreed to come to next year's weekend school to speak on the topic, "The UK Coalition government and Wales". Ms Gillan will speak on the afternoon of Saturday 18 February. This is not the first time somone with credentials as Welsh secretary has spoken to Society members. In 2007, Paul Murphy who was Labour Secretary of State from 1999-2002 and again in 2008-2009 came to the weekend school to talk about security and terrorism. However Ms Gillan will be the first serving Secretary of State to address the school and we are particularly pleased to welcome her.
The Society is delighted to announce that Brecon and Radnor MP, Roger Williams, has accepted the Society's invitation to join the panel session on topical political issues to be held at the 2012 weekend school on the morning of Sunday 19 February. Roger generously participated in the panel session at this year's school and we are very pleased he has agreed to be with us again at the Hotel Commodore as one of our panel of Parliamentarians.
The costs for the Society's next weekend school, to be held at the Hotel Commodore, Llandrindod Wells, will be as below. Please send cheques made out to the Lloyd George Society to Bill Barritt at The Leasowes, Wenlock Road, Bridgnorth, Shropshire, WV16 5LZ.
The registration fee is not included in the cost for the whole weekend and has to be charged irrespective of length of stay, However if you wish to attend the Saturday dinner only, no registration fee is charged. There is no extra charge for a single room. All rooms have en suite facilities. Children under 12 sharing accommodation with their parents will receive a 50% discount.
The next Society weekend school will be held from Friday 17 - Sunday 19 February 2012 at the Hotel Commodore, Llandrindod Wells. Confirmed speakers include Dr Sandy Waugh (contributor to the Journal of Liberal History) comparing aspects of Scottish and Welsh Liberalism, Professor Jon Roper of Swansea University to give an assessment of President Barack Obama in Presidential election year, Lord Tom McNally on human rights, civil liberties and the role of the Ministry of Justice and playwright D J Britton, the author of the new play about David Lloyd George The Wizard, The Goat and the Man Who Won the War on writing about Lloyd George.
