Sir William Jenkins MP: A Life Commemorated in Silver

The Parliamentary Art Collection cares for a variety of works of art, many of which represent individuals who have influenced parliament through the ages, such as Sir William Jenkins MP (1871–1944). A silver salver was presented to Jenkins by 34 MPs to celebrate his knighthood in 1931, and it is engraved with their signatures. This salver is a reflection of Jenkins’ distinguished career in both local government and Parliament. It commemorates not just a moment in time, but a lifetime of service to the people of South Wales, particularly those in the mining communities whose voices he helped carry to the national stage.

From Coal Mines to Public Service

Sir William Jenkins’ story began in Afon Vale, Glyncorrwg, near Cymer, Glamorgan, where he was born on January 8, 1871. His father, Miles Jenkins, was a miner, and his mother, Anne Davies supported the family. Jenkins attended Glyncorrwg National School until the age of eleven, when he left to work on the Rhondda and Swansea Bay Railway. Like so many of his generation, he found himself in the mines shortly thereafter, working as a collier boy in Abergwynfi’s Avon Hill Colliery by the age of twelve. He became an active trade unionist and was appointed lodge secretary in 1890. By 1898, he was a check-weigher at Cymer Drift Mine, ensuring fair pay for miners.

Supporter of Education and the Community

Black and white portrait photograph of an adult man looking directing at the camera, with a plain neutral background. He has a serious expression and has short hair swept to the viewer’s left, and a moustache. The man is wearing formal clothing including a white shirt matched with a slim dark tie, a buttoned up dark waistcoat, and matching dark blazer. There is also a white handkerchief in the right pocket. — Sir William Jenkins  by Bassano Ltd © National Portrait Gallery, London

Jenkins attended evening classes and shared his knowledge, teaching boys’ classes at his local Sunday school. A devout nonconformist (a member of a Protestant Church which dissents from the established Church of England), and a Welsh speaker, Jenkins was deeply involved in his religious community. He served as precentor and deacon of Hebron Congregational Chapel in Cymer and was an accomplished tenor singer, often winning prizes at eisteddfodau—Welsh cultural festivals—and even becoming an eisteddfod conductor.

His public service career began with his election to the Glyncorrwg School Board in 1900. He went on to serve on the Glyncorrwg Urban District Council from 1904 until his death in 1944, chairing it on three separate occasions. During his tenure on the Glamorgan County Council, where he was elected in 1906, he was a vocal advocate for expanding access to education, increasing secondary school provision, and securing scholarships and grants for working-class children.

A Labour Champion and National Politics

Jenkins served as secretary of the Western Miners’ Association and played a prominent role in the South Wales Miners’ Federation, where he was involved in national and international negotiations for better working conditions. His career as a trade unionist was complemented by his work as a pioneer of the cooperative movement in South Wales, managing the first federal co-operative society in the region.

In 1922, Jenkins was elected as the Labour Party MP for Neath, unseating the National Liberal incumbent, J. Hugh Edwards. Jenkins was also popular and committed to his constituency – he was unopposed twice in later elections and consistently polled over 60% of the vote. Although his parliamentary career was largely behind the scenes, he was respected across party lines and became known for his work as the Parliamentary Private Secretary to Vernon Hartshorn, the Postmaster General, during the 1924 Labour government.

Jenkins passed away on December 8, 1944, at his home in Cymer, and was buried in the local cemetery. His knighthood and the silver salver that commemorates it symbolise his achievements.

The Silver Salver

In recognition of his significant contributions to local government, Jenkins was knighted in 1931. To mark this honour, this silver salver was presented to him.

Photograph of a hexagon shaped piece of silver salver on a grey background. The salver is intricately decorated around its edges. In the middle, the salver is engraved with the words ‘Presented to Sir William Jenkins. M.P. by the Welsh Members of Parliament to mark the honour of knighthood bestowed upon him by His Majesty the Kind. Feb. 24. 1931.’ Around these words are 34 engraved signatures. — Silver salver commemorating the knighthood of William Jenkins, WOA S761, © UK Parliament

Close up photograph of silver salver detailing the engraved message ‘Presented to Sir William Jenkins. M.P. by the Welsh Members of Parliament to mark the honour of knighthood bestowed upon him by His Majesty the Kind. Feb. 24. 1931.’ Parts of engraved signatures are just in view around this message. — Silver salver commemorating the knighthood of William Jenkins, WOA S761, © UK Parliament

Popular in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, silver salvers were historically used to present food, drinks, or letters in royal or noble households. This salver was instead created as ceremonial silverware to commemorate Jenkins. Now part of the Parliamentary Art Collection, it is more than a decorative object; it is engraved with the signatures of 34 Welsh MPs and MPs representing Welsh constituencies, representing a collective tribute from Jenkins’ peers within Parliament.

T. W. Harris

Each signature was carefully etched into the metal by craftsman T. W. Harris.

The silver salver is accompanied by a photograph and the 34 original signatures, cut from parliamentary watermarked paper. These were retained and framed together by T. W. Harris. He later gifted this to Jenkins’ family.

In the middle of the image is a photograph of a hexagon shaped silver salver. 34 signatures are engraved on the salver, and the edges of the salver are intricately decorated. The background behind the salver is black. This photograph has been placed onto a light brown backing, with 34 small bits of paper glued around it. Each piece of paper includes a signature. A cream boarder circles the light brown backing. — Photograph of William Jenkins salver surrounded by mounted original signatures, WOA 7671, © UK Parliament

A letter accompanied the photograph of the silver salver and signatures. It read ‘At my death or retirement from business I would like this photograph to be offered to Sir William Jenkins or should he have died, to the present owner of the salver if still in the family. T. W. Harris, May 1st 1936.’ Little is known of Harris aside from a business address at 13 Brook Street, Hanover Square, London, W.1, which is engraved on the reverse of the salver.

Photograph of a letter written on aged yellow paper. At top of the letter is capitalised printed font reads ‘Telephone Mayfair 0788. Below this is says ‘T. W. Harris’ with an intricate design around the name. Underneath it reads ‘E. Harris’ in capitals followed by ‘Jewler & Silversmith in large script font, and underneath this, ‘Licensed Valuator’ in capitalised font. A banner underneath this reads ‘Brook Street, Hanover Square, W.1.’ Underneath it reads ‘Established 1823.’ There is then a gap, and then a handwritten message follows in black ink. It reads ‘At my death or retirement from business I would like this photograph to be offered to Sir William Jenkins or should he have died to the present owner of the salver if still in the family. E Harris’. It’s then dated May 1st 1936. — A letter signed by T. W. Harris affixed to the back of the photograph, WOA 7671, © UK Parliament

Today, the silver salver is a significant piece in the Parliamentary Art Collection. The Speaker’s Advisory Committee on Works of Art acquired this object in 2020.