John Darwin Hinds
John Darwin Hinds (28 December 1922 - 15 March 1981)[1] was a politician who became Wales' first Black, Muslim councillor in 1958 and later, in 1975 became Wales's first Black mayor.[2] His older sister, Elvira Gwenllian Payne (known as Gwen[3]), was Wales' first Black female councillor.
Early life
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Hinds was born in Maerdy, to Leonard Hinds, a former merchant seaman, and Gwenllian Hinds (née Lloyd). He grew up on Morgan Street in Barry.[1] He was one of six children[4][1] and the younger brother of Elvira Gwenllian Payne, Wales' first Black female councillor. His mother was born in Barry and his father was originally from Barbados.[1] His father earned the Mercantile Marine War Medal in 1919 and after the war became a coal miner in Maerdy.[1]
After leaving school, Hinds initially worked in the coal mines at Bargoed[5] before getting an opportunity to work in the Colonial Office in London.[6] It was whilst working at the Colonial Office that Hinds became interested in politics.[1]
Political career and community work
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Hinds returned to Wales and converted to Islam following a near death experience from contracting tuberculosis.[7] It was around the same time that HInds joined the Labour party and began working on local social issues.[6]
Hinds was elected to Barry Town Council in 1958.[8] He was Wales' first Muslim councillor and Wales' first Black councillor.[1] He was a fluent Welsh speaker and at the time, only one of only three Welsh-speaking councillors.[1][8]
Later in 1975, he became Wales' first Black mayor,[2] becoming mayor for the Vale of Glamorgan Council. His sister, Gwen, served as his mayoress[6][9] and he supported Gwen in founding the Buttrills Community centre.[10] He advocated for the establishment of a local branch of the Guide Dogs for the Blind association and worked to end housing insecurity.[1]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f g h i "HINDS, JOHN DARWIN VIVIAN (1922 - 1981), politician and community activist | Dictionary of Welsh Biography". biography.wales. Retrieved 2025-06-12.
- ^ a b "John Darwin Hinds (1922-1981)". Peoples Collection Wales. Retrieved 2025-06-12.
- ^ "PAYNE, ELVIRA GWENLLIAN ('Gwen'; née Hinds) (1917 - 2007), politician and community activist | Dictionary of Welsh Biography". biography.wales. Retrieved 2025-06-19.
- ^ Churchward, Sally (2020-08-06). "Opinion: Black lives matter in Wales (with thanks to some white women)". In-Common - Southampton. Retrieved 2025-06-12.
- ^ "Calypso & Coal". Historic Dock Project. Retrieved 2025-06-12.
- ^ a b c "Black History Stories Wales | The Hinds Family". www.spanglefish.com. Retrieved 2025-06-12.
- ^ "John Darwin Hinds". Black History Wales (BHW) Resource Centre. Retrieved 2025-06-12.
- ^ a b Wightwick, Abbie (2018-09-28). "Brilliant, Black and Welsh: A celebration of 100 inspiring people". Wales Online. Retrieved 2025-06-12.
- ^ https://www.valeofglamorgan.gov.uk/Documents/Working/Education%20and%20Skills/21st-Century-Schools/Barry-Community-History-Map-%E2%80%93-Pencoedtre-High-School-Route-and-Information-English.pdf [bare URL PDF]
- ^ "Campaign to name Barry community hall after first black councillor, is launched". Barry And District News. 2020-06-29. Retrieved 2025-06-19.