Steffan Lewis facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Steffan Lewis
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Steffan Lewis in 2016
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| Member of the Welsh Assembly for South Wales East |
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| In office 6 May 2016 – 11 January 2019 |
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| Preceded by | Jocelyn Davies |
| Succeeded by | Delyth Jewell |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 30 May 1984 Ystrad Mynach, Caerphilly, Wales |
| Died | 11 January 2019 (aged 34) Ystrad Mynach, Caerphilly, Wales |
| Political party | Plaid Cymru |
| Spouse | Shona |
| Children | 1 |
Steffan Lewis (born 30 May 1984 – died 11 January 2019) was a Welsh politician. He was elected to the Welsh Parliament, known as the Senedd, in the 2016 election. He represented the area of South Wales East as a member of the Plaid Cymru party.
In December 2017, Steffan was diagnosed with a serious illness called bowel cancer. He passed away on 11 January 2019, when he was 34 years old.
Early Life and Education
Steffan Lewis grew up in a home where both Welsh and English were spoken. He lived in Crosskeys and Tredegar. He first went to Swffryd Primary School. Later, he attended Welsh-speaking schools: Ysgol Gymraeg Cwm Gwyddon in Abercarn and Ysgol Gyfun Gwynllyw in Pontypool.
Steffan became interested in politics at a young age. This happened around the time of the 1995 Islwyn by-election. He then became an active supporter of the Plaid Cymru party during the 1999 Welsh assembly election. Before becoming a politician, he worked at a call centre. He also briefly studied Religious Studies and Ethics at Cardiff University.
Political Journey
Steffan Lewis started his political journey as a town councillor in Blackwood. He ran for a seat in the UK Parliament in the 2006 Blaenau Gwent by-election. He came third in that election.
After this, he worked for his party in the Welsh Parliament. He even wrote speeches for Leanne Wood, who was the leader of Plaid Cymru at the time. He tried again to be elected to the UK Parliament in Blaenau Gwent in 2015. He finished fourth out of six candidates.
In 2015, Steffan was chosen as the top candidate for Plaid Cymru in the South East Wales region. He was then elected to the Welsh Parliament in the 2016 election. He was the youngest person ever to be elected there at that time. He took over the role from Jocelyn Davies, for whom he had worked before. He became the party's spokesperson for international matters and led their discussions about Brexit.
Illness and Passing
Just one year after becoming a Member of the Welsh Parliament, Steffan Lewis was diagnosed with bowel cancer in December 2017. Doctors found that the illness had already spread to other parts of his body. Despite his illness, he bravely continued his work as a politician. He also kept working as Plaid Cymru's spokesperson on Brexit. He spoke openly about his fight against the illness and how he was coping.
Steffan passed away at Ystrad Fawr Hospital in Ystrad Mynach on 11 January 2019. Many politicians from all parties in the Welsh Parliament shared kind words about him.
Delyth Jewell took his place in the Welsh Parliament. She had been next on Plaid Cymru's list of candidates for the region in the 2016 election.
His funeral was held on 25 January at St Luke's Church in Abercarn. He was then buried at the local cemetery.
Family Life
Steffan Lewis married Shona, who is from Inverness, in 2009. They lived in Blackwood and had a son named Celyn. Celyn was three years old when his father passed away. Steffan was also a big fan of Celtic Football Club.
