Eleanor Burnham is a Welsh Liberal Democrat politician who was a Member of the Welsh Assembly (AM) for North Wales from 2001 until 2011.

Eleanor Burnham
Member of the Welsh Assembly
for North Wales
In office
22 March 2001 – 5 May 2011
Preceded byChristine Humphreys
Succeeded byAled Roberts
Personal details
Political partyWelsh Liberal Democrats
SpouseDerek Burnham (div)

Background

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Burnham was born in Wrexham and brought up in Gwnodl Fawr, Cynwyd. Her early career was in social services management. She was previously a Wrexham Magistrate and a member of Denbigh Hospital Mental Health Tribunal. She has worked as a fundraiser for St. Kentigern Hospice, St. Asaph.[1] A fluent Welsh speaker, Burnham is a qualified aromatherapist and her hobbies include gardening, cycling and swimming.

Burnham is an amateur singer who won a prize in the Soprano category at the Llangollen International Eisteddfod and is a former member of Mid Wales Opera.[1] After leaving the Senedd, she competed in the "Voice of Wales" competition.[2]

Politics

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Burnham succeeded as Liberal Democrat AM for North Wales on 22 March 2001 after Christine Humphreys had resigned because of ill-health. Burnham was the Welsh Liberal Democrat Assembly spokesperson on Culture, Welsh Language and Sport. Her political interests lie in full devolution for Wales, social inclusion and lifelong-learning. In this role she repeatedly challenged the Culture Minister, Alun Pugh, "to prove whether or not he can be the champion for the Welsh language".[3]

After losing her seat in 2011, Burnham received a "resettlement grant" of £32,000, but commented that she did not think it was "morally correct" for AMs to receive the grants if they had other jobs to go to. She retrained as a teacher.[4]

References

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  1. ^ a b Eleanor Burnham (19 September 2008). "The Mezzo-Soprano Assembly Member". Total Politics. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
  2. ^ Hywel Trewyn (24 February 2011). "Politician Eleanor Burnham pitches for singing stardom". North Wales Live. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
  3. ^ "Eleanor Burnham AM". Welsh Lib Dems. Archived from the original on 25 October 2005. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
  4. ^ "Payout of £845,179 for 22 ex-AMs who quit or lost seats". BBC. 13 April 2012. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
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Offices held

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Senedd
Preceded by Assembly Member for North Wales
2001 – 2011
Succeeded by