Welcome to the web site of the Lloyd George Society

The Lloyd George Society is a loose combination of like minds that meets in Wales for a weekend school on topical subjects, historical issues (particularly those relating to David Lloyd George) or interesting questions affecting Welsh life and culture, all from a liberal perspective. The Society usually meets once a year in February, avoiding the dates of rugby football internationals.

The schools have been taking place for over 50 years. Originally designed for Welsh Liberal parliamentary candidates to debate policy and topical questions, to help them prepare for the election trail, the schools have developed away from this specific purpose and now provide an informal forum for participants to hear interesting talks, take part in discussions and meet friends, old and new.

The schools have always tried to attract speakers expert in their field to provide plenty of food for thought and a leavening of controversy but the schools are best enjoyed for their good fellowship with many members who have attended regularly for decades.

Despite the origins of the Society, we are not formally affiliated to the Liberal Democrats. We welcome supporters and speakers at the weekend school who belong to other political parties or anyone who has an interest in Wales, history or current affairs. Obviously however, our liberal history strongly informs the range of topics on the school's agenda. In addition our Vice Presidents are Liberal Democrat parliamentarians.

Is Gordon Brown the new Lloyd George? Tue 23rd Jun 2009 A recent article in the Financial Times by historian Peter Clarke has drawn parallels between our current prime minister and David Lloyd George.

'The wizard, the goat, the man who won the war' - Llanystumdwy celebrates Lloyd George Day Fri 15th May 2009 Saturday 16 May 2009 is Lloyd George Day - to be celebrated with a special series of dramas and events in the great man's home village of Llanystumdwy.

As swine flu hits - look back 100 years Sat 2nd May 2009 The media today is full of the H1N1 virus and its potential to inflict death on a global scale. However almost exactly 100 years ago an influenza pandemic did actually break out and carried off millions around the world. One report later estimated that nearly half the world's then population (around a billion people) were affected in some way.

Read Lloyd George's message to the American people on the anniversary of the entry of the USA into the First World War Tue 7th Apr 2009 The Guardian newspaper has today published a story from their archives dated 7 April 1917, in which the declaration of war against Germany by the USA is reported.

Listen to Nick Robinson, the BBC political correspondent, on David Lloyd George Fri 3rd Apr 2009 Nick Robinson, the chief political editor of the BBC, has recorded a 15 minute programme about David Lloyd George in the series 'The Prime Ministers' for Radio 4. You can still hear it on BBC iPlayer - where it will be available for the next four days by following the link:

New papers added to the Society archive Thu 19th Mar 2009 We have been able today to add four new texts to the archive of papers prepared for delivery to the Lloyd George Society. These are three talks given at the weekend school of February 2008 and a fourth by Society Chairman Bill Barritt which he prepared for presentation.

New Vice-President of the Society: Jennifer Longford Mon 2nd Mar 2009 The Society is very pleased that Jennifer Longford, the daughter of Frances Stevenson, Countess Lloyd George, who was present with us at this year's Weekend School, has agreed to become one of the Society's Vice-Presidents.

Lloyd George TV programme - 24 February 2009 Tue 24th Feb 2009 Huw Edwards, the news broadcaster, will present a programme about Lloyd George tonight on BBC4 from 8.00-9.30pm. It seems to be repeat of a programme which went out first last year but is well worth re-watching if you missed it first time round.

Changes to weekend school programme Thu 5th Feb 2009 Unfortunately Richard Reeves is now unable to attend the weekend school and give his talk on J S Mill so there have been some timing changes to the programme. You can see the revised programme at: http://lloydgeorgesociety.org.uk/pages/Programme09.html

Lloyd George knew my father....but what's the origin of the famous song? Sat 31st Jan 2009 Everyone has sung the lines "Lloyd George knew my, father knew Lloyd George" to the tune of Onward Christian Soldiers. It's a school bus, camp fire, Glee Club favourite. But a recent enquiry to the Liberal Democrat History Group queried the origins of the song and the Society wondered if readers could help with a definitive answer.

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