Secretary of State for Wales constituencies dwindled almost to zero, the office fell into disrepute. Nicholas Edwards, MP for Pembrokeshire, held the post for eight years. On his departure, the government ceased to look within Wales for the Secretary of State, and the post was increasingly used as a way of getting junior high-fliers into the Cabinet. John Redwood in particular caused embarrassment when he publicly demonstrated his inability to sing Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau", the Welsh national anthem, at a conference. The introduction of the National Assembly for Wales and the Welsh Government, after the devolution referendum of 1997, was the beginning of a
Isaac Clarke (publisher) "Gems of Welsh Melody" by Owain Alaw. Owain had been the adjudicator of the Llangollen Eisteddfod competition and gave it the title "Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau" (Land of my Fathers). The song, later became the first Welsh language song to be put on vinyl, sung by Madge Breese and recorded by the Gramophone Company on 11 March 1899. In 1860 Isaac Clarke also published the first editions of "Oriau'r Hwyr"and "Oriau'r Boreu" by Mr J. Ceriog Hughes subsequently publishing further 5 editions of these books. Also that year 4 years after its composition Owain Alaw wrote to James Jams asking