Dr Hywel Francis presenting his books to London Metropolitan Vice Chancellor, Professor Malcolm Gillies, and to Chris Coates, TUC Librarian
Aberavon MP Dr Hywel Francis led a delegation from the All Party Parliamentary Group on Archives and History to the Trades Union Congress (TUC) Library at London Metropolitan University yesterday.
Six members of the APPG – Chair Hywel Francis; Vice Chairs Lord Clark and Paul Murphy MP; and members Baroness Taylor, Lord Monks, Lord Haworth and Helen Goodman MP – were welcomed to London Metropolitan University by Vice-Chancellor Professor Malcolm Gillies, TUC Librarian Chris Coates, and her colleagues from the University’s Library Services.
Established in 1922 for the use of the TUC and affiliated unions, the Library collections are a major research resource for all aspects of trade unions, lifelong learning and people at work.
Dr Francis said:
“It was a privilege to see first-hand the unique collections housed at the TUC library and for myself and Lord Monks it was particularly nostalgic as we were colleagues over forty years ago when we worked at the TUC in Congress House. We are grateful for the warm welcome we received from Professor Gillies, Ms. Coates and their colleagues and for the insights they shared into these very interesting collections.”
Dr Francis presented the library with his book, Miners Against Fascism: Wales and the Spanish Civil War and presented retiring librarian Chris Coates with his most recent book (co-authored with Sian Williams), Do Miners Read Dickens? Origins and Progress of the South Wales Miners’ Library, both signed by the visitors from the All Party Group.
