Winston Roddick
CB KC
North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner
In office
22 November 2012 – 11 May 2016
Preceded byPosition Established
Succeeded byArfon Jones
Personal details
Born
George Winston Roddick

(1940-10-02) 2 October 1940[1]
Caernarfon, Wales[1]
Political partyIndependent

George Winston Roddick, CB, KC (born 2 October 1940 in Caernarfon)[1] is a Welsh barrister, and the former North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner. At the time he was a member of the Liberal Democrats, but ran as an independent and on election resigned from the Party. Roddick was the first person to hold the post.

Early life

Roddick was born and raised in Caernarfon,[1] educated at the Royal Naval School Tal-Handaq, Malta and the Sir Hugh Owen Grammar School, Caernarfon.

After training and working as a police officer in Liverpool, he undertook a law degree at University College, London.

Career

He then trained as a barrister, appointed to the bar in 1968,[2] and then became a Crown Court recorder.[2] One of Wales's leading barristers, he took silk in 1986,[2] and was appointed as the first Counsel General for Wales in 1998, the most senior legal adviser to the Welsh Assembly, during which time he advised on the creation and legislative passing of the Welsh Language Act 1993.[3]

Political career

Roddick has twice stood for the Liberal Party unsuccessfully in Parliamentary elections: in Anglesey at the 1970 general election, and in Cardiff South and Penarth in 1983. He also served as Chairman of the Welsh Liberal Party in the early 1980s.[4]

Police and Crime Commissioner

In November 2012, he sought election as the Police and Crime Commissioner for North Wales Police, beating Labour's Tal Michael on the second count.[3] After his election, he was criticised for running as an independent even though he is a member of the Liberal Democrats, with the Welsh Labour Party accusing him of 'hiding' his allegiance for political reasons.[5] Roddick stood down at the 2016 elections and the seat was won by Arfon Jones of Plaid Cymru.

Other

In 1997, Roddick was appointed a member of the Independent Television Commission, and between 2004 and 2012 was a member of the S4C Authority.

Personal life

He is a member of the Gorsedd of Bards, patron of Caernarfon Rugby Club, an Honorary Life Member of Caernarfon Town F.C. Supporters Club, the Honorary President of GISDA (Gwynedd charity for homeless young people), and the Vice President of the Caernarfon Male Voice Choir.

Honours

Roddick is a Companion of the Order of the Bath, and an Honorary Fellow of the University of Aberystwyth.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Winston Roddick". Debretts. Retrieved 16 November 2012.
  2. 1 2 3 "Winston Roddick". 9 Park Place. Retrieved 16 November 2012.
  3. 1 2 "Winston Roddick elected as North Wales police and crime commissioner". BBC Wales. 16 November 2012. Retrieved 16 November 2012.
  4. ↑ The Times Guide to the House of Commons: June 1983, p.72
  5. ↑ Bodden, Tom (20 November 2012). "New Police Commissioner says he didn't try to hide Lib Dem membership". Daily Post. Retrieved 21 November 2012.
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