Beddoe Rees

Sir William Beddoe Rees, usually known simply as Beddoe Rees (1877 – 12 May 1931) was a Welsh architect, industrialist and Liberal politician.

Rees was born in Maesteg, Glamorganshire, the son of the late Isaac Rees, also of Maesteg. He was educated privately and at the University of Wales. Rees was trained as an architect and published one of the few manuals on chapel architecture: 'Chapel building: hints and suggestions'. In 1925, he married Elizabeth, daughter of the late Robert Jones-Griffith, of Dolgellau in Merionethshire. They had one daughter, Rosemary, in May 1927 (died, Bath 15 September 2009). In religion, Rees was a nonconformist eventually becoming Joint Treasurer of the National Free Church Council of England and sometime President of the National Free Church Council of Wales. The National Free Church Council has been described as the 'political arm' of nonconformity.

As an architect Rees designed many Welsh chapels before giving up his practice about the beginning of the First World War to become managing director of Welsh Garden Cities Ltd, the organisation which built garden villages in several of industrial valleys in South Wales. Rees built up extensive business interests becoming the chairman of a number of companies, mostly in the coal mining and related industries. These included Ashburnham Collieries, Ltd, Ashburnham Steamship and Coal Co. Ltd and North Amman Collieries. He was also a Director of Amalgamated Anthracite Collieries and Welsh Anthracite Collieries, Ltd.

Rees was knighted in June 1917 for his work as chairman of Welsh Garden Cities Ltd, a commercial body, the most striking legacy of which in co-operation with other housing and town planning organisations, was the suburb of Rhiwbina in the north of Cardiff.

Rees first stood for Parliament as a Liberal at the 1918 general election in Cannock, Staffordshire. His opponent was a sitting MP and former Chief Whip of the Labour Party in the wartime coalition government, James Parker. Despite Labour having withdrawn from the Coalition to fight the election as an independent party, Parker announced that he was to remain at his post and would fight the election as Coalition candidate. Parker was one of a handful of Labour Party MPs to support the Coalition in the election and in some reports was described as a Liberal, although it is not completely clear if he received the government Coupon. After the election however he retained his job as a government whip being appointed one of the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury.

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