Tributes paid to ex-Welsh Secretary Lord Crickhowell
LORD Crickhowell, a former minister in Margaret Thatcher’s Cabinet, has died aged 84.
As Nicholas Edwards he was elected as MP for Pembrokeshire in 1970 and served as Welsh Secretary from 1979 to 1987.
After standing down as an MP he took a seat in the House of Lords.
Senior Welsh Tories paid tribute to the former minister, who died on March 17.
Welsh Secretary Alun Cairns said: “I am deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Lord Crickhowell after a period of ill health.
“I only chatted to him by telephone just a few weeks ago where we recalled his time in office and the many challenges he faced.
“We laughed at one of my early memories of him facing protests at the Eisteddfod with me watching from a distance as a schoolboy competing – it is one of my earliest and most vivid political memories.
“Lord Crickhowell was an inspiration to me from a very young age, looking on with admiration at the leadership he showed as Welsh Secretary.
“He was a politician of great repute, but importantly a great man and set the benchmark as Secretary of State for Wales.”
Welsh Tory leader Andrew RT Davies said: “Lord Crickhowell was an inspiration to a generation of Welsh Conservatives, and his passing is desperately sad news for his family and friends.
“As a constituency MP he represented Pembrokeshire with huge dedication, and he advanced the cause of Wales around the cabinet table during eight years in government.
“He was a politician of real vision and tenacity, and his most enduring legacy to Wales will be the transformation of Cardiff Bay – which to this day remains one of the most successful regeneration projects the country has seen.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with his family at this sad time.”