Freedom of the County for former councillor

A FORMER Carmarthenshire councillor could be granted the prestigious honour of the Freedom of the County.

The accolade, the highest a council can bestow, could be given to William David Thomas, who would also be the first individual to receive it.

Mr Thomas, more widely known as Dai Trelech, recently resigned due to ill health after 50 years serving his community as a councillor.

His letter of resignation was presented to Full Council last week where members paid tribute to him, and proposed that he be granted the Freedom of the County.

Chair of Council Cllr Daff Davies said: “I consider that we should recognise his enormous contribution to this council and public service in Carmarthenshire by bestowing upon him the Freedom of the County of Carmarthenshire.”

Council Leader Cllr Kevin Madge, who seconded the proposal, said: “David Thomas is one of those I learned so much from, he gave me great advice.

“He carried out his duties up until the end, he has a record of 50 years dedicated work for Carmarthenshire and Wales.”

Leader of the Independent group Cllr Pam Palmer said: “We all hold him with a great deal of affection, he is a very likeable and knowledgeable man.

“His advice was sound and built upon years of political experience. What he brought to this council and the independent group will be a very difficult act to follow.”

Plaid Cymru Leader Cllr Emlyn Dole gave examples of what the world was like when Mr Thomas first started in politics.

“When he was first elected Winston Churchill was still sitting in the House of Commons,” Cllr Dole said. “People were still being hanged and the Great Train Robbers were still awaiting sentence.

“That does give a perspective of the amount of time he has been serving the people of Trelech.”

It was unanimously agreed that the proposal to grant Mr Thomas the Freedom of the County would be decided at the next Full Council meeting on December 10.