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From protester to power - photos show new first minister's journey

Cemlyn DaviesWales political correspondent
News imageChris Reynolds The black and white image shows a protest taking place on the steps of the then Welsh Office. On the left a campaigner is speaking into a loud-speaker. On the right a number of young people are listening on. They include Rhun ap Iorwerth who is holding a placard.Chris Reynolds
Rhun ap Iorwerth, right, took part in a protest outside the then UK government's Cathays Park in 1991

It is the early nineties and a 19-year-old protestor is pictured standing on the steps of the UK government's Welsh Office in Cardiff.

The student is listening on as part of a protest organised by the Welsh language society Cymdeithas yr Iaith, calling for a law to protect Welsh-speaking communities.

Around 35 years later, that same protestor - Rhun ap Iorwerth - stood on the same steps at Cathays Park, now belonging to the Welsh government, having been sworn in as the new first minister of Wales.

The images taken of the Plaid Cymru leader on Tuesday stood in stark contrast with those taken of him on 23 November 1991 by amateur photographer Chris Reynolds, who was documenting the protest.

Reynolds described the response to publishing the photographs on social media in recent days as "bonkers", adding they had been viewed almost 60,000 times.

News imageWelsh government The image, taken on Tuesday evening, shows Rhun ap Iorwerth standing on the steps of the Welsh Office. He is wearing a dark suit, white shirt, and red tie with white spots.Welsh government
Rhun ap Iorwerth posed outside Cathays Park on Tuesday after being sworn in as Welsh first minister
News imageChris Reynolds This is a wide, black and white photograph of the Welsh Office during the 1991 protest. A number of people are gathered in front of the main door. There are police officers guarding the door. There is graffiti on the wall. Rhun ap Iorwerth can be seen to the right of the photograph.Chris Reynolds
But 35 years ago, ap Iorwerth (left circle) was joined by fellow future Plaid Cymru leader Leanne Wood (right circle) at the protest on the very same steps

Reynolds shared the images of the 1991 protest - which was organised to call for a Property Act in order to help control the housing market - on social media this week following Plaid's Senedd election success.

Coincidentally, stood a short distance behind ap Iorwerth in one of the old images is Leanne Wood, who led Plaid Cymru between 2012 and 2018.

She is seen wearing a t-shirt bearing the message "nid yw Cymru ar werth", which translates as Wales is not for sale - a well-known slogan used by Welsh language campaigners against the rise of second homes in the country.

News imageChris Reynolds This image is a cropped version of the first photograph. It shows a young Leanne Wood stood behind Rhun ap Iorwerth. She is wearing a t-shirt that reads 'Wales is not for sale' in Welsh.Chris Reynolds
Leanne Wood, leaning against the pillar, was Plaid Cymru leader between 2012 and 2018

During the protest, slogans were painted on the wall of the Grade II-listed building and on the pavement in front of the steps.

Dating from the 1930s, it originally housed the UK government's Welsh Board of Health.

After the position of secretary of state for Wales was created in the 1960s, it became home to the Welsh Office.

Then In 1999, it became part of the office complex used by Wales' fledgling devolved government.

Campaigning for and promoting the Welsh language was a feature in ap Iorwerth's formative years.

His father Edward Morus was a teacher, prominent singer and composer, as well as being an active campaigner for Plaid Cymru, the Welsh language and Welsh culture.

Ap Iorwerth literally means son of Iorwerth - Iorwerth being a Welsh form of Edward.

The first minister's mother was also a teacher and went on to become president of several organisations promoting the Welsh language.