David Francis (or Dai Francis as he was more commonly known) was born in 1911 in Panyffordd, near Onllwyn, Dulais Valley. He was the son of a miner. In 1926 he began employment at Onllwyn No.1 Colliery where his father also worked. He continued to work there until 1959. In 1936 he married Catherine and had two children, Nancy who was born in 1939 and Hywel who was born in 1946.
In 1936 David Francis was elected Financial Secretary of the local lodge and in 1940 was elected Chairman. He continued in this role until 1959. In 1937 he joined the Communist Party. David Francis was a member of the Executive Council of the South Wales Miners' Federation (SWMF) 1943-1959 and visited the USSR as part of a National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) delegation. In 1959 he was appointed as Chief Administrative Officer of the NUM (South Wales Area) and in 1963 was elected General Secretary of the NUM. In 1974 he eas elected First Chairman of the Wales Trades Union Congress (TUC). He retired in 1976. David Francis died in 1981.
From the guide to the David Francis, 1934-1982, (Swansea University)
