George, W.R.P. 1912-2006 (William Richard Philip George)

OBITUARY NOTICE—

See index for CA sketch: Born October 20, 1912, in Criccieth, Wales; died November 20, 2006. Attorney and author. A liberal solicitor with a long and distinguished career, George was also an award-winning poet whose verses drew heavily on his Welsh heritage. He attended Wrekin College, Shropshire, before studying law in London and qualifying to practice in 1934. Joining his father's Porthmadog legal firm, William George and Son, he would go on to practice law actively until his death at the age of ninety-four. His father had actually exceeded this impressive feat, working until he was 101. Raised in a liberal family—his uncle was former Liberal Prime Minister David Lloyd George—George naturally joined the Liberal Party. He pressed for the creation of a Cabinet position for a Welsh secretary of state. When the Liberals failed to support the idea, George was severely disappointed. It was not until after the new millennium dawned that George would find some satisfaction with the creation of a National Assembly of Wales. As war loomed in Europe, the young attorney registered as a conscientious objector because of his pacifist beliefs. He spent the duration working in the countryside for the government. It was during this time that he began writing poetry and plays. He was greatly encouraged when he won the National Eisteddfod drama prize in 1943. Writing in his native Welsh, George penned five verse collections, including Dwyfor a cherddi eraill, 1943-1947 (1948), Grawn Medi (1974), and Mydylau (2004). Meanwhile, he continued to practice law and became involved in politics, too. A clerk for the Justices Barmouth from 1948 to 1975, he was a deputy circuit judge from 1975 to 1980 and co-councilor for the Criccieth Ward Gwynedd County Council from 1967 to 1996. He chaired the county council from 1982 until 1996. Also an author of television and radio plays, George was wrote the biographies The Making of Lloyd George (1976) and Lloyd George, Backbencher (1983). Still, his poetry was dearer to the hearts of many of his countrymen, and George was named Archdruid of Wales from 1990 to 1993. Made a Commander of the British Empire in 1996, George related his life story in the autobiography 88 Not Out (2001).

OBITUARIES AND OTHER SOURCES:

BOOKS

George, W.R.P., 88 Not Out, Gwasg Dwyfor (Gwynedd, Wales), 2001.

PERIODICALS

Times (London, England), December 30, 2006, p. 49.