Alun Michael
A Welsh Labour politician who navigated the birth of Welsh devolution, serving as both its first First Secretary and later as a long-serving Police Commissioner.
Born 1943 (age 83)·Welsh politician·Birthday: August 22·The Silent Generation
Biography
Alun Michael's political career is intrinsically woven into the modern story of Welsh governance. A Labour and Co-operative MP for Cardiff South and Penarth from 1987, he built a reputation as a pragmatic and community-focused politician. His moment of greatest historical significance came in 1999, when following the first elections to the new National Assembly for Wales, he was chosen as the inaugural First Secretary (the title later changed to First Minister). His tenure, however, was brief and turbulent, marked by internal party tensions and the complexities of establishing a new political institution; he resigned after losing a vote of confidence in 2000. Michael later reinvented his public service role in the field of criminal justice. Elected as the first Police and Crime Commissioner for South Wales in 2012, he served for an unprecedented three terms, focusing on community policing, violence prevention, and youth intervention programs. This latter chapter, lasting over a decade, gave him a lasting impact on grassroots safety and governance, framing a legacy that spans both the high-wire act of founding a parliament and the granular work of local law enforcement.
The Silent Generation
1928–1945
Born between the Depression and the end of WWII. Too young to fight, old enough to remember. They became the conformist middle managers of the 1950s — and the civil rights leaders who quietly dismantled Jim Crow.
Alun was born in 1943, placing them squarely in The Silent Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Alun Was Born
The biggest hits of 1943
#1 Movie
For Whom the Bell Tolls
Best Picture
Casablanca
Alun's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1943Born
Allies invade Sicily; Battle of Stalingrad ends
Gas: $0.21/galHome: $3,290Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"I've Heard That Song Before" — Harry JamesBest Picture: Casablanca
1948Started school
Israel declares independence; Berlin Blockade begins
Gas: $0.26/galHome: $7,450Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Twelfth Street Rag" — Pee Wee HuntBest Picture: Hamlet
1956Became a teenager
Elvis Presley appears on The Ed Sullivan Show
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $10,050Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Heartbreak Hotel" — Elvis PresleyBest Picture: Around the World in 80 Days
1959Could drive
Fidel Castro takes power in Cuba
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $12,400Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"The Battle of New Orleans" — Johnny HortonBest Picture: Ben-Hur
1961Could vote
Yuri Gagarin becomes the first human in space
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $12,500Min wage: $1.15/hrPresident: John F. Kennedy"Tossin' and Turnin'" — Bobby LewisBest Picture: West Side Story
1964Turned 21
Civil Rights Act signed; Beatles arrive in America
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $13,450Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"I Want to Hold Your Hand" — The BeatlesBest Picture: My Fair Lady
1973Turned 30
US withdraws from Vietnam; Roe v. Wade decided
Gas: $0.39/galHome: $22,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree" — Tony Orlando & DawnBest Picture: The Sting
1983Turned 40
Internet adopts TCP/IP, creating the modern internet
Gas: $1.16/galHome: $57,700Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Every Breath You Take" — The PoliceBest Picture: Terms of Endearment
1993Turned 50
European Union officially established
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $86,600Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"I Will Always Love You" — Whitney HoustonBest Picture: Schindler's List
2003Turned 60
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2013Turned 70
Edward Snowden reveals NSA surveillance programs
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $152,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Thrift Shop" — Macklemore & Ryan LewisBest Picture: 12 Years a Slave
2023Turned 80
ChatGPT goes mainstream; Israel-Hamas war begins
Gas: $3.52/galHome: $361,600Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Flowers" — Miley CyrusBest Picture: Oppenheimer
2026Age 83 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Served as the first First Secretary (First Minister) of Wales in 1999, leading the inaugural devolved government.
- Held the position of Secretary of State for Wales in the UK government from 1998 to 1999.
- Elected as the inaugural Police and Crime Commissioner for South Wales in 2012, serving three terms until 2024.
- Was a Member of Parliament for Cardiff South and Penarth for nearly 25 years, from 1987 to 2012.
- Served as Minister of State for Rural Affairs and as Deputy Home Office Minister earlier in his career.
Did You Know?
He is a qualified barrister and worked as a journalist for the South Wales Echo before entering politics.
Michael lost a vote of confidence in the Welsh Assembly in 2000, leading to his resignation and replacement by Rhodri Morgan.
He was a prominent advocate for the 'Yes' campaign in the 1997 Welsh devolution referendum.
His father was a Welsh Congregationalist minister.
As PCC, he was known for his 'Early Action' approach, focusing on preventing crime before it occurs.
“Devolution is about making a difference in people's daily lives.”
