Albert Brookes (1898-1976) was born in Bream, the son of a miner. From July 1917 to February 1919, Brookes served in the Royal Navy in submarines and on his return gained work at Princess Royal colliery as a hewer. He then joined the Labour Party and became active within the FDMA. In September 1921, he married Dorothy Phipps and went on to have two children. In 1925, he joined the Miners’ Minority Movement. He was a member of the Monmouth Board of Guardians during the 1926 lockout. He was blacklisted after the lockout and never worked in a pit again and gained employment as an insurance agent.
In 1926, he was elected as a councillor on West Dean District Council. In 1931, he was elected as secretary of Bream Miners’ Hall and in 1933 was elected President of the Forest of Dean Labour Party.
In 1935, he was elected to the new West Dean Parish Council. In 1938, he was elected as a County Councillor representing the Blakeney ward. He continued to be an active member of the Labour Party and a Labour Councillor until he retired.