Gaynor Legall

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BornFebruary 1950 (age 76)
TitleCity councillor
Term1983-1991
Gaynor Legall
BornFebruary 1950 (age 76)
TitleCity councillor
Term1983-1991
SuccessorBetty Campbell

Gaynor Antoinette LeGaulle CBE (born February 1950) known as Gaynor Legall,[1] is a Welsh campaigner and activist who grew up in Tiger Bay. Legall was a founder of the Wales Anti-Apartheid Movement and chaired a 2020 audit on monuments linked to the slave trade within Wales. She served as a councillor within Cardiff, becoming the first black councillor for a city within Wales.

Legall was born in February 1950, at St David's Hospital, Cardiff. She grew up during the 1956 redevelopment of Tiger Bay and attended South Church Street, in Butetown.[1] Legall was raised by her mother and an uncle who acted as a surrogate father to her.[2] As a child, she attended the Cardiff's children's group The Rainbow Club, where she met Shirley Bassey in 1957, before she began her first world tour.[3][4]

Growing up, her grandmother and great aunt told her stories of the 1919 South Wales race riots. The two sisters lived in Tiger Bay at the time and barricaded themselves in their home to avoid rioters, stockpiling rocks in case they needed to throw them as protection. They sewed pockets into the men's clothing, so they could hide knives and guns within them.[5] Reflecting on her family's experiences, Legall's grew up with a deep set distrust of officials, and stated the riot had left the community with a lingering sense of fear.[5][6][7]

Political career

Legall served as a councillor for the Butetown electoral ward of Cardiff City Council between 1983-1991.[8] She was the first black councillor for a city within Wales.[4][9][10] She ran under the Labour Party.[11]

Further Work

Awards

References

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