More tributes pour in for Rhodri
FURTHER tributes have been paid to former First Minister Rhodri Morgan, who died on Wednesday.
Described as “the Father of Wales”, Mr Morgan spent more than 30 years in politics and led the country as first minister for almost 10 years from 2000.
AMs will pay their respects to Mr Morgan, 77, at an extended plenary session next Tuesday, the Assembly has announced.
The session is expected to take up to two hours, with flags continuing to fly at half mast for Mr Morgan, who collapsed and died while cycling near his home in the Vale of Glamorgan.
Shadow Welsh Secretary Christina Rees said: “Wales and Welsh Labour has lost someone who is simply irreplaceable. Through the good times and the bad, Rhodri was not only a friend, but a supporter, a mentor and source of selfless support.
“Rhodri was simply fantastic when [daughter] Angharad and I went through such difficult times, always on hand with a wise word, a smile or a story. I emailed Rhodri once when Angharad was living in Te Anau in New Zealand, and told him of the life she was living there and how much I was missing her.
“We couldn’t chat often and she seemed so very far away. Rhodri quipped that it sounded like she was living in a café in West Wales! (Te means tea in Welsh).
“Every time I’ve stood for Welsh Labour, Rhodri supported me in the kindest of ways. The video we made during the European election campaign is one I will treasure forever.
“But it was away from the politics that I will remember him most fondly. The occasional chats about our shared passions of marathon running and every sport imaginable – Rhodri was as passionate as he was knowledgeable.
“Or the times he’d pop over to present the Squash Wales trophies on a Sunday on his way home from Riverside Market.
“The sense of loss in Rhodri’s passing is matched only by the joy that memories like this bring.”
His former school, Whitchurch High School, also paid tribute.
Head teacher Huw Jones-Williams said: “Whitchurch High School pays tribute to one of our most famous former students who was seen as the natural ‘Unofficial President’ of all our thousands of school leavers.
“As a former first minster of the National Assembly of Wales who else could compete?
“Rhodri joined Whitchurch Grammar School, as it was then, on the Penlline Road site and went on to study PPE at Oxford University. In 1968 Whitchurch Grammar school merged with the secondary modern to form the current Whitchurch High School, Wales’ largest secondary school.
“Rhodri was a regular visitor to the school and always kept a keen interest in how the students were doing and the latest developments of his alma mater.
“Together with Julie Morgan, his wife, they attended the musicals held in the upper school hall he remembered so fondly as a former student; the annual carol service at Llandaff Cathedral; and other special events.
“When he retired after his third term of office as first minister in 2009 he generously donated to the upper school library a wonderful collection of books for future generations of Whitchurch High students to treasure.
“It was so apt on that occasion that one of the students who met Rhodri on the handover said afterwards ‘what a lovely man – he was so easy to talk to even though I have seen him on the television!’
“We will all miss Rhodri’s support, wit, charm and engaging personality which everyone could relate to. We extend our deepest condolences to Julie and all Rhodri’s family and friends at this time.”