The Lloyd George Society is an organisation whose origins like those of Lloyd George are of Liberal roots but have now developed so they encompass a wider spectrum of political backgrounds. It is named after David Lloyd George, the Welsh Liberal politician who was British prime minister from 1916–1922.
Despite its name, the society does not have as its central aim the study and research of David Lloyd George. Although this does occur in some of the society’s events it actually covers an eclectic array of differing topics ranging from contemporary Welsh, British and International Politics to historical events, culture, literature, business, ecology and the arts.
The society was founded in the late 1950s by Liberals in Wales when it was known as the Welsh Liberal Weekend Schools. These included Lords Martin Thomas, Emlyn Hooson and Ogmore. It met, usually at a hotel in Mid Wales, once a year to discuss topical political and social questions both domestic and foreign, with invited specialist guest speakers. A favourite location has been the Abernant Lake Hotel at Llanwrtyd Wells because this was one of the Spa towns at which Lloyd George used to spend time. It was the same hotel which many of the Czech refugee children on the Kindertransports where sent when they arrived in England in 1939. The School’s main purpose at that time was to provide Liberal parliamentary candidates with an environment in which they could learn about the issues of the day, debate them with experts and so gain in experience and self-assurance better to equip them for the pressures of fighting general elections.
By the mid-1980s, with the development of the Liberal-SDP Alliance, the name Welsh Liberal Weekend Schools was discarded and the group became known as the Lloyd George Society. The inaugural meeting of the society was chaired by Lord Roy Jenkins. The Welsh founding members included Emlyn Hooson who was Liberal MP for Montgomeryshire from 1962–1979 and Tom Ellis of the SDP. The first chairman was Roger Pincham, former chairman of the Liberal Party. It has continued to meet annually in Wales with expert speakers invited to talk on topical issues but, over the years, it has stopped being a training school for Liberal candidates and has now opened its doors to an audience who have an interest in Welsh, British and International affairs, society and culture as well as the wider British political scene. The society also promotes an interest in the life, career and family of David Lloyd George.
At the meeting of the society in Llandrindod Wells in February 2009, the late Jennifer Longford, the daughter of Frances Stevenson, Lloyd George’s longtime mistress and his second wife, was elected as a vice-president of the society and the society has other links to the Lloyd George family and those connected with him. The Society was run between 1985 and 2024 by two long-serving Secretaries Bill Barret, followed by Graham Lippiatt, whose wife Sally was also the long-serving Treasurer. From 2024 the Society’s Secretary is Duncan Hill. There were also three long-serving Chairman, Roger Pincham (1985-1998) Winston Roddick, 1998-2004 and Professor Russell Deacon 2004 to present.
Aims of the Society
The central aim of the society is to hold a yearly weekend conference in Mid Wales, which is open to those who are interested in learning new things, fostering discussion and engaging in interesting and challenging topics of conversation.
Although the society wishes to encourage political discourse it is not a campaigning body for any one political party and where possible seeks to include a balance of viewpoints in its programme.
The Lloyd George Society also organises occasional events in Cardiff and London. These are lectures, and meetings where politicians, academics, and the public can discuss current political challenges, often related to themes like historical events and anniversaries, democratic reflection, and social policies. These events provide a forum for debate and may also help shape political thinking.
Professor Russell Deacon
October 2024
