Juliet Rhys-Williams

Dame Juliet Evangeline Rhys-Williams, Lady Rhys-Williams, ( Glyn; 17 December 1898 – 18 September 1964) was a British writer and politician who was successively a member of the Liberal National Party, the Liberal Party and the Conservative Party.

Early life Juliette Evangeline Glyn was the daughter of Clayton Louis Glyn, a barrister, and his wife Elinor Glyn. She was educated in Eastbourne, and joined the Voluntary Aid Detachment aged 15.

She began her career as private secretary to the Director of Training and Staff Duties at the Admiralty in 1918, becoming private secretary to the Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Transport, 1919–1920. She was working for Sir Rhys Rhys-Williams, 1st Baronet, and they were married in 1921. Subsequently she was often known as Lady Williams. As a supporter of the National Government she received the formal support of the local Conservative Association. In a two-way contest she polled 40% of the vote. From then on her political activities were in support of the official Liberal Party. In 1943 she became Honorary Secretary of the Women's Liberal Federation. In 1944 she became Chairman of the Publications and Publicity Committee of the Liberal Party, serving for two years. She was a member of the Liberal Party's ruling Council. She resigned after a disagreement on policy matters with her party's leaders.

She later joined the Conservative Party, was the secretary (1947–1958) and chair (1958 onwards) of the United Europe Movement and editor of European Review. She also became a prominent member of the right-wing Conservative Monday Club.

Interests Lady Rhys-Williams was interested in film, and involved in the development of colour film, taking out a patent in 1930, with Sydney George Short.

Family Sir Rhys and Lady Rhys-Williams had four children; Brandon Rhys-Williams was the second son, and inherited the baronetcy, his elder brother having died in 1943.

Publications Doctor Carmichael (1940), London: Herbert Jenkins Something to Look Forward to; a Suggestion for a New Social Contract (1943), London: Macdonald Family Allowances and Social Security (1944), Liberal Publication Department Taxation and Incentive (1953), New York: Oxford University Press A New Look at Britain's Economic Policy (1965), Harmondsworth: Penguin