Richard Lewis was born in Maesteg General Hospital in February 1960 to Iris, an Office Supervisor at the Revlon cosmetics factory in Maesteg; and father Emlyn, a miner at Caerau Colliery and an acclaimed amateur boxer. Growing up in Caerau, he was educated at Blaencaerau Junior School, Maesteg Comprehensive School and qualified in Medicine from Leeds University in 1983. After returning to Wales, he settled as a General Practitioner in his home village of Caerau in 1987. Richard has been Medical Director of Mid Glamorgan Family Health Services Authority and Mid Glamorgan Ambulance Service. In 2003 he was appointed Welsh Secretary of the British Medical Association and in 2015 became the first National Professional Lead for Primary Care working to Welsh Government and NHS Wales. With an interest in emergency medicine, Richard has instructed in pre-hospital emergency care and major incident management and has been a Forensic Medical Examiner for South Wales Police. He was a founder member of Mid-Glamorgan Emergency Doctor Service, providing voluntary emergency care to the victims of road accidents. He stepped down in 2018 after more than 30 years of service. A long-time member of St John Ambulance in Wales, he has served as Divisional Surgeon, County Surgeon, and Medical Adviser to the charity. In 2014, Richard was appointed a Deputy Lieutenant in the County of Mid-Glamorgan, and in 2019 was awarded MBE for services to General Practice and Primary Care Services in Wales. Richard continues to work as a GP part-time, and as a keen supporter of Welsh Rugby, is the Honorary Medical Officer of Maesteg Harlequins RFC, a Championship Club in the Welsh Rugby Union. Richard has one son and two grandchildren.