Several councillors take decision to retire from public life
A FORMER nurse, soldier, teacher, social worker and salon owner who served as Carmarthenshire councillors are standing down at this week’s local government elections.
Several councillors have decided to call it a day after decades of service in some cases. Voters will choose 75 councillors to represent the county for the next five years on Thursday.
Among those retiring are Eirwyn Williams, who has been a councillor for 27 years. He used to be a teacher before he joined the Welsh Joint Education Committee, the assessment and training body.
Cllr Williams brought his education background to his role as vicechairman and then chairman of the council’s education scrutiny committee, although those posts are now held by other councillors. He has also served on the executive committee, known now as the cabinet.
“It’s time for me to say enough is enough,” said Cllr Williams, who represents Cynwyl Gaeo, between Llandovery and Lampeter, for Plaid Cymru. “I have enjoyed it, I must admit.”
Asked what advice he would give to prospective councillors, the 81-year-old said: “You need patience, and the ability to listen to people. You have to do your best to solve people’s problems. If you can’t, just be honest, and tell them you’re sorry.”
Cllr Williams is the current council chairman, which he means he presides at meetings of full council. Through this role he has also raised more than £5,000 for Wales Air Ambulance by doing an off-and-on sponsored walk of 225 miles – the length of the boundary of Carmarthenshire. He has clearly taken to it as he is on his fourth “lap”, having clocked up some 700 miles.
Cllr Ken Lloyd, who used to work for the Halifax Building Society, was elected to what was then Dyfed County Council in 1989. He then retrained as a social worker and was employed in that capacity for the council until 2017, when he retired. At that point he stood again and was elected, representing Carmarthen Town North for Labour.
The 67-year-old, who is the current council vice-chairman, said of his work as an elected member: “It is quite a lot
of hard work. It is a big commitment. I have enjoyed it mostly, being able to help.”
Cllr Alan Speake, who is standing down for family reasons, said it had been a privilege to serve Carmarthen Town West since 2004.
The son of a miner, he grew up in the Valleys, near the Rhondda, and represented South Wales in football at the age of 14. He completed a construction apprenticeship and then enlisted in the Welsh Guards. He saw action and was wounded in what is now Yemen.
After leaving the Army he returned to the building trade and then wound up in Carmarthen in 2000 with his wife, Stephanie.
Cllr Speake represented Plaid Cymru but switched to Independent two years ago.
The 77-year-old said: “I am quite sad leaving because I really thrived and enjoyed helping and supporting people, many who were or are elderly and vulnerable, also families who struggle to find a home and who have been waiting patiently on the housing waiting list for a very long time.”
Cllr Ieuan Davies has represented Llanybydder for 23 years and was council chairman in 2020-21. He ran a hairdressing salon for 45 years, and said residents in the village had asked him to continue representing them.
“I have got on with people really well, but I wanted to finish while my health is good,” said the 66-year-old Independent. He felt that rural areas like his didn’t get the services that towns like Llanelli and Carmarthen did.
“Things are getting really difficult – and two years of Covid has just spoilt everything,” he said.
Other councillors not standing include Amanda Fox, Bill Thomas, John Prosser, Shirley Matthews, Penny Edwards (all Labour), Irfon Jones, Jim Jones, Joseph Davies (Independent), and Dorian Williams, Cefin Campbell and Carl Harris (Plaid).
Another councillor leaving the fray is Gwyneth Thomas.
She was a nurse in the casualty department of Prince Philip Hospital, Llanelli, and juggled her job with being a councillor until her retirement from the NHS some seven years ago.
She was first elected as a Plaid councillor 23 years ago, representing Llangennech, and chairs the council’s social care and health scrutiny committee.
“The social services and health department for the council are doing their very best to look after the elderly,” she said. “There have been difficulties with Covid, but I can only commend the team.”
The 70-year-old and her husband celebrate their golden wedding anniversary the day after the election and will embark on a cruise to Iceland.
“I have enjoyed my time,” she said. “I feel it’s time to hand over to younger and more energetic personalities.”