David Cameron has led tributes to former Conservative minister Lord Roberts of Conwy, who died aged 83, describing him as a “formidable champion” for Wales.
The Prime Minister said the peer, who as Wyn Roberts was a minister in the Welsh Office in the Thatcher and Major governments, had given “unstinting service”.
Welsh Secretary David Jones said he was “arguably the greatest Welshman of his generation” and First Minister Carwyn Jones said he had been one of the leading figures in the nation’s politics for 30 years.
Mr Cameron said: “Wyn was one of the kindest and most compassionate colleagues I had the pleasure to work with but his gentle nature could not disguise his skill as a frontline politician and his resolve to be a champion for his beloved Wales.
“As a Member of Parliament for almost three decades, Wyn gave unstinting service to the Welsh Office as a minister between 1979 and 1994.
“In the Lords, Wyn was never one to watch events from the sidelines, returning to the front bench as a shadow minister for a decade after 1997.
“The driving force behind the Welsh Language Act, Wyn often could be heard across Parliament talking to colleagues and guests in the language he felt so passionate about.
“He was a devoted public servant, and a tireless ambassador for Wales.”
S4C Authority chairman Huw Jones said: “Alongside his measured and careful style, he had humour and mischief in his eye.”