Dai Francis

Who is Dai Francis?

Dai Francis was a Welsh trade unionist, best remembered for his leadership of the South Wales Miners' Union during the 1970s. As a member of the Gorsedd of the National Eisteddfod of Wales, he took the bardic name Dai o'r Onllwyn. He was the father of MP Hywel Francis.

Francis was born at Onllwyn, near Neath. He became the first officer of the South Wales Miners' Union in 1959, and in 1963 became its General Secretary. In 1974 he became the first chairman of the Wales TUC. He retired in 1976, and in the same year unsuccessfully challenged Charles, Prince of Wales, in the election for Chancellor of the University of Wales.