Roger Roberts, Baron Roberts of Llandudno facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
The Lord Roberts of Llandudno
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| Member of the House of Lords Lord Temporal |
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| Assumed office 15 June 2004 Life Peerage |
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| Personal details | |
| Born | 23 October 1935 |
| Nationality | Welsh |
| Political party | Liberal Democrats |
| Website | www.lordrogerroberts.uk |
John Roger Roberts, also known as Lord Roberts of Llandudno, was born on October 23, 1935. He is a Welsh politician from the Liberal Democrats party. He is also a Methodist minister and a special kind of member of the House of Lords, called a life peer. For a long time, he was the President of the Welsh Liberal Party and then the Welsh Liberal Democrats.
Learning and School
Lord Roberts went to school at John Bright Grammar School in Llandudno. He also studied at the University College of North Wales and Handsworth Methodist College in Birmingham.
His Career
As a Minister
In 1957, John Roger Roberts became a Methodist minister. He was the main Methodist minister in Llandudno for 20 years. After that, he worked as a minister at the Dewi Sant Church in Toronto, Canada. Today, he is still an active minister in North Wales.
In Politics
Lord Roberts was a local councillor and a leader for the Liberal Democrats. He worked on the Aberconwy Borough Council for many years. He also tried to become a Member of Parliament for the Conwy area five times.
He came very close to winning twice. First, he almost beat the Conservative candidate, losing by only 995 votes. Then, in the 1997 General Election, he lost to the Labour party. This was when the Conservatives lost their majority in the House of Commons.
On June 15, 2004, Roberts was given a special title: Baron Roberts of Llandudno. This made him a "life peer," which means he became a member of the House of Lords for the rest of his life. He used to be a "whip" (someone who helps organize votes) and a spokesperson for international development. Now, he speaks for the Liberal Democrats on topics like young people's involvement in democracy, unemployment, and helping people seeking safety. He also talks about Welsh affairs.
Lord Roberts is currently the president of Wales International. He is also an honorary president for groups like Bite The Ballot and Liberal Democrats for Seekers of Sanctuary (LD4SOS). He is also a vice-president of the Llangollen International Music Eisteddfod.
His Family Life
Lord Roberts wrote a book called Hel Tai, which is only available in Welsh.
He lives in Llandudno, North Wales. He is a widower, meaning his wife has passed away, and he has three children. His son, Gareth Roberts, also ran for the same political seat as his father in 2005. His two daughters, Rhian and Sian Roberts, work for the BBC and Electoral Reform Services.
