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Lord Roberts of Conwy dies, aged 83 | Lord Roberts of Conwy dies, aged 83 |
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Lord Roberts of Conwy has died at the age of 83. | Lord Roberts of Conwy has died at the age of 83. |
He piloted the Welsh Language Act in 1983 and as Wyn Roberts served as Conservative MP for Conwy from 1970 until his retirement from the House of Commons in 1997. | He piloted the Welsh Language Act in 1983 and as Wyn Roberts served as Conservative MP for Conwy from 1970 until his retirement from the House of Commons in 1997. |
During 18 years of government, he was the longest-serving minister in the same department. | |
Welsh Secretary David Jones called him "an extraordinary man" and a "powerful exponent" of the Welsh language. | |
The non conformist minister's son from Anglesey turned to politics after starting his career in journalism. | |
After Margaret Thatcher won the 1979 election, Wyn Roberts was made Welsh Office minister and his responsibilities included the Welsh language. | |
He never made it into the cabinet but served under four Secretaries of State and two prime ministers. | |
He became Baron Roberts of Conwy when he retired as an MP in 1997 and was as an opposition spokesman on Welsh affairs in the Lords until 2007. | |
Lord Roberts leaves a wife, Enid - who he married in 1956 - and sons Huw and Geraint. His son Rhys died in 2004. | |
Welsh Secretary David Jones called him "the greatest Welshman of his generation." | |
"The greatest of his many political achievements was the Welsh Language Act, which gave full and proper recognition in public life to the language of which he was such a masterful and powerful exponent, and which he loved so much," said Mr Jones. | |
He said this was his "personal achievement" and marked him as "doing more for Welsh cultural life than any man of his generation." | |
Mr Jones added that Lord Roberts was "an extraordinary man, very kind, extremely wise with a tremendous sense humour." | |
"To me, he was a kind friend and wise counsellor. He will be greatly missed, both in Wales and in Westminster." |