Aubrey Hames was a former leader of the old Newport Borough Council and was mayor of the borough in the Queen’s Silver Jubilee year of 1977/78. First elected to Newport Borough Council in 1954, he remained a councillor (apart from an eight-year break) until his retirement from politics in 1987.

During his time as a councillor, he established a reputation as a forthright, honest, and hardworking politician, not afraid of upsetting those in the fight for the best deal for his constituents and the people of Newport. This often included national government, particularly when the Conservative Party was in power. However, despite his often aggressive approach to a political fight, he gradually earned the glowing respect of his political allies and opponents who admired his unquestioned integrity and honesty. This also applied to the people of Newport whom he served. By the time of his retirement from politics, he had established unusual fame for a local politician, and probably helped by his famous moustache, few people did not know who he was.

In this moving account of Aubrey Hames’ life his son, Dominic Hames, remembers his father’s life as a politician and explores the major events in Aubrey’s political career. He takes an unflinching view of the events that threatened to discredit his good name, as well as the major political projects that formed the cornerstones of his career. This is a fascinating historical study of local governance in Wales, and the United Kingdom more broadly, in the decades immediately following the second world war. It provides an insight into the local history and politics of the time, the beginnings of the labour party, as well as an account of a life lived in service to his local community. No one reading this book can fail to be affected by the character of Aubrey who is brought to life so vividly by his son in this book.