Sir John Maldwyn Thomas (17 June 1918 – 31 July 2002) was a Welsh businessman and Liberal Party politician.

Background

Maldwyn Thomas was the son of Daniel and Gwladys Thomas. He was educated at Porth Rhondda Grammar School. In 1975, he married Maureen Elizabeth Thomas. In 1984 he was knighted. In 1999 his wife Maureen received the DBE.[1]

Professional career

Thomas was a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Secretaries, he took first place in South Wales in both his intermediate and final examinations.[2] He was secretary to Lewis & Tylor Ltd, a large industrial concern in Cardiff, from 1940-56. In 1953 he was Called to Bar at Gray's Inn. He worked for Rank Xerox from 1964-1979, as Secretary, Managing Director and finally as Chairman.[3]

Political career

Thomas was Liberal candidate for the Aberavon division of Glamorgan at the 1950 General Election. It was not a promising seat for the Liberals who had not run a candidate since 1931. He came a third;

General Election 1950: Aberavon
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour William George Cove 29,278 68.7 −3.8
National Liberal Auberon M H Y M Herbert 8,091 19.0 −8.5
Liberal John Maldwyn Thomas 5,263 12.4 N/A
Majority 21,187 49.7 +4.7
Turnout 42,634 85.8 +6.4
Labour hold Swing

He did not stand for parliament again.[4] He served as President of the Welsh Liberal Party from 1985–86. He was President of the London Welsh Association and Trust from 1994-2001. He was a Trustee of the London Welsh School.[5]

References

  1. ^ ‘THOMAS, Sir (John) Maldwyn’, Who Was Who, A & C Black, an imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing plc, 1920–2015; online edn, Oxford University Press, 2014 ; online edn, April 2014 accessed 2 Jan 2015
  2. ^ The Times House of Commons 1950
  3. ^ ‘THOMAS, Sir (John) Maldwyn’, Who Was Who, A & C Black, an imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing plc, 1920–2015; online edn, Oxford University Press, 2014 ; online edn, April 2014 accessed 2 Jan 2015
  4. ^ British parliamentary election results 1950-1973, Craig, F.W.S.
  5. ^ ‘THOMAS, Sir (John) Maldwyn’, Who Was Who, A & C Black, an imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing plc, 1920–2015; online edn, Oxford University Press, 2014 ; online edn, April 2014 accessed 2 Jan 2015
Party political offices Preceded byEmlyn Hooson President of the Welsh Liberal Party 1985–1986 Succeeded byGruffydd Evans
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