Gareth Williams, Baron Williams of Mostyn


Gareth Wyn Williams, Baron Williams of Mostyn, , was a Welsh barrister and Labour politician who was Leader of the House of Lords, Lord President of the Council and a member of the Cabinet from 2001 until his sudden death in 2003.

Early life

Williams was born near Prestatyn, in North Wales, a son of Albert Thomas Williams and his wife Selina, née Evans. He was educated at Rhyl Grammar School and at Queens' College, Cambridge.

Legal career

He had a successful legal career, having been called to the bar at Gray's Inn in 1965, taking silk in 1978, being a Recorder in 1978–2003, being a Deputy High Court Judge, being the Leader of the Wales and Chester Circuit in 1987–89, and was a Member of the Bar Council in 1986-92 and became the Chairman in 1992.

Political career

He was created a life peer on 20 July 1992 as Baron Williams of Mostyn, of Great Tew in the County of Oxfordshire, and became an opposition spokesman in the House of Lords on Legal Affairs, and later Northern Ireland. After Labour's election victory he was appointed a Home Office minister, and in 1999 became Attorney General for England and Wales and Northern Ireland. He was appointed Leader of the House of Lords in 2001, initially with the sinecure office of Lord Privy Seal, for which Lord President of the Council was substituted in 2003.

Reputation among his colleagues

As part of the celebrations to mark the fiftieth anniversary of the Life Peerages Act, Lord Williams was voted by the current members of the House of Lords as the outstanding life peer since the creation of the life peerage. In his book A View from the Foothills Chris Mullin wrote that he thought that Gareth Williams was most likely to succeed Derry Irvine as Lord Chancellor; the position was ultimately fulfilled by Charles Falconer.

Personal life

Williams married, firstly, in 1962, Pauline Clarke, daughter of Ernest Clarke, and by her had two daughters, Martha and Emma, and a son, Daniel. They divorced, and he married, secondly, in 1994, Veena M. Russell, and by her had one daughter, Imogen.

Death

He collapsed and died suddenly at his home in Gloucestershire, at the age of 62. He was survived by his four children.

Coat of arms