Born this day 1913 in Plymouth

Michael Foot -  “grandfather of devolution”  and MP for Ebbw Vale from 1960 to 1992.

A deep thinker and prolific writer; he had a glittering career in journalism before becoming an MP; Foot was as far from the modern image-obsessed politician as it is possible to imagine.  He first became an MP in Plymouth and in 1960  took over the constituency of Ebbw Vale from his hero, Aneurin Bevan, later writing a two-volume biography of  him and with James Callaghan and Neil Kinnock. He was one of a group of Welsh MPs who dominated Labour’s senior ranks in the 1970s and 1980s.  He led Labour from 1980 to 1983, a period marked by internal party rows and a failure to counter the Conservative populism of Margaret Thatcher. After his death in 2010, tributes were paid to him by politicians from all parties.

*  Former First Minister Rhodri Morgan saluted Mr Foot as the man who “set Labour on course for devolution. While people might not have necessarily expected it from somebody from Plymouth, he was a passionate supporter of devolving power who pushed for the 1979 vote in the face of the internal opposition".

*  First Minister Carwyn Jones said: “We have lost a real political giant.  Michael Foot was a great thinker, a fine orator and superb writer. He crammed a huge amount into his long life and he led the Labour Party during one of the most difficult periods in its history. Above all , he remained a fierce advocate for equality and social justice throughout his life and it is that passion for which he will always be fondly remembered.”

*  Former Welsh Secretary Paul Murphy said: “He was a true socialist, never wavering in his views, and he had a particular affection for Gwent, representing Ebbw Vale after the death of Nye Bevan.  I knew Michael as a friend and as a neighbouring constituency colleague, and as Gwent MPs we campaigned on many issues together. He had a real understanding of the people of the Welsh Valleys and was proud to be an adopted Welshman."

*  Chris Roberts, Welsh Labour’s general secretary, said: “I had the great privilege of driving Michael around North Wales in 1989.  I was in awe of a lovely man who switched effortlessly from personal reminiscences of George Orwell and the leaders of the Spanish Republic to a chat over a cup of tea with two delighted elderly ladies in Porthmadog Milk Bar. We have lost a great socialist and a splendid human being.”

*  Plaid Cymru leader Ieuan Wyn Jones said: “Michael Foot was a man of principle and a great Parliamentarian who commanded respect across the political divide. It was my privilege and pleasure to have known him and to have served in Westminster at the same time as him where I learnt much from his wealth of knowledge and commitment to social justice."  “Michael Foot was also a great devolutionist and I know that he was delighted when the people of Wales said yes to the creation of a National Assembly in 1997, despite wanting a more powerful parliament for Wales. His passing is a loss to the political culture of Wales.”

A staunch republican (though actually well liked by the Royal Family on a personal level), Foot rejected honours from the Queen and the government, including a knighthood and a peerage, on more than one occasion.

July 1861, the Welsh newspaper 'Baner ac Amserau Cymru' began twice-weekly publication.

In the mid 19th century, a newspaper was beginning to be considered as one of the essentials of life. The first successful Welsh newspaper was Yr Amserau [The Times] which was established in Liverpool in 1843 and dealt with contemporary issues, such as landlords and tithes, the Corn Laws, politics and education.

Yr Amserau was bought by Thomas Gee in 1859 and joined with Baner Cymru [The Banner of Wales]. Baner ac Amserau Cymru [The Banner and Times of Wales] became significantly influential. It was generally Liberal in outlook, supporting Radical causes and taking every opportunity to defend and promote nonconformity. The paper succeeded in attracting many able journalists, such as John Griffith, who was the London correspondent of the Baner, reporting parliamentary debates and attending political meetings throughout Wales.    

Sir Roger Mostyn (1625-1690) was a royalist during and after the English Civil War, whose subsequent fortune established the Mostyn Baronets, who in the following generations founded the town of Llandudno.

1625   Born near Holywell, Flintshire,

1642    Outbreak of The English Civil War.The Mostyn family supported King Charles I, with Sir Roger probably instigating the 'loyal address of the people of Flintshire', presented to Charles at York.

1642   Mostyn and Captain Salesbury provided Welsh troops when Charles visited Chester after his formal declaration of war. After the king's departure, the soldiers pillaged the houses of suspected parliamentarians.

1643    Mostyn was made a colonel and led a force of Welshmen into Chester, who expressed their loyalty by ransacking the town-house of Parliamentarian Sir William Brereton.

1643    Mostyn was appointed as the governor of Flint Castle, but following a long autumn siege, during which the garrison was reduced to eating their horses, he surrendered it to Brereton and Sir Thomas Myddelton.

1643(18 Nov)    Mostyn headed a combined troop of Irish soldiers and Welsh recruits, forcing the parliamentarians to abandon Flint. They also captured Hawarden Castle.

1646  Mostyn visited Ireland to muster recruits for the relief of Chester, returning with 160 men. The planned march to Chester was thwarted, however, when Brereton intercepted them and forced them to retreat to Conwy and to Denbigh. Mostyn himself escaped and managed to elude his enemies for 12 years.

1658   Mostyn was captured by Colonel Carter at Conwy but was soon released. However, he had bankrupted his estate in the service of the crown and had to live in impoverished seclusion for many years at a farmhouse called Plasucha.

1660   After The Restoration of the English monarchy, Charles ll made Mostyn a Baronet, his finances improving through profits derived from lead and coal mines.

1684  (23rd July) His situation became so secure that he was able to provide a 'very great and noble entertainment' for the Duke of Beaufort and his entourage on their official progress through Wales  before securing Bristol for King Charles II.

The Battle of Woodbury Hill - the battle that never was.

In July 1405, a French force arrived in Wales to assist the Owain Glyndwr Rebellion.

1405 was the "Year of the French" in Wales. Their force left Brest with more than twenty-eight hundred knights and men-at-arms led by Jean de Rieux, Marshal of France. However by the time they landed in Milford Haven they had lost many warhorses who had died through lack of fresh water. They marched inland alongside Owain's army and took the town of Haverfordwest but not the castle. They retook Carmarthen and laid siege to Tenby, then inexplicably, marched right across South Wales and into England. Force-marching through Herefordshire and Worcestershire, they met Henry lV's army at Great Witley, ten miles from Worcester itself. Henry's army stood on Abberley Hill facing south towards Owain's army, which took up position a mile away on the hill fort of Woodbury Hill. The armies surveyed each other, without any action, for eight days. No battle was initiated and eventually both sides withdrew, the Franco-Welsh force returning to Wales.

The reasons for the impasse and subsequent withdrawal are unclear, although it is generally believed that Henry's army had the advantage of being well supplied on home soil whereas the Franco-Welsh force was isolated deep in enemy territory and at risk of being surrounded. Also, Owain had suffered a devastating loss earlier that year at The Battle of Pwll Melyn (Battle of Usk) losing 1500 men according to some sources, including his brother Tudur and he was maybe reluctant to initiate an attack.