Julian Hodge

Sir Julian Hodge (15 October 1904 – 17 July 2004) was a London-born entrepreneur and banker who lived in Wales for most of his life, from the age of five. He formed the Bank of Wales (originally known as the Commercial Bank of Wales), and later the Julian Hodge Bank in Cardiff.

As the son of a plumber, he came from humble beginnings. At the age of five he moved with his family to Pontllanfraith, in the South Wales Valleys and within the South Wales coalfield. He left school from the Lewis School Pengam at age 13 but his mother encouraged him to read classic novels and recite poetry to further his education. His first job was as an assistant in a chemist's shop. He joined the Great Western Railway as a junior clerk in 1920 and studied accountancy in his spare time, qualifying as a corporate accountant in 1930. He went into business for himself as an accountant in 1934. Married to Moira Thomas in 1951, he had 3 children; Jane, Robert and Jonathan Hodge.

He was well known as a philanthropist, using much of his fortune for charity work including setting up the Jane Hodge Foundation in memory of his mother and as a benefactor for Cardiff University from 1970 onwards (one of the halls of residence now bears his name - Hodge Hall). In the late 1990s he did not, contrary to popular belief, fund the "Just Say No" campaign against devolution ahead of a referendum for the Welsh Assembly, which was chaired by his son Robert, however he did support their cause, as did the late George Thomas, 1st Viscount Tonypandy. Later he was involved with the Euro-Know campaign opposed to the introduction of the euro in the UK.

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