Tributes to Cllr George Edwards

Tributes are today being paid to Cllr George Edwards, who sadly passed away on the weekend.

Cllr Edwards had represented the Hengoed ward on Carmarthenshire County Council since his election in 2012, sitting on the Policy and Resources Scrutiny Committee, Licensing Committee and Planning Committee. He was also a councillor on Llanelli Rural Council.

A Labour man, Cllr Edwards had worked hard in his community to make a difference to local people – and it was on the first day of the new Ysgol Ffwrnes in his ward – which he had championed as a councillor and school governor – that his colleagues and friends learned of his death.

Council Leader, Cllr Kevin Madge, spoke on behalf of the local Labour Group in saying that the school would be Cllr Edwards’s legacy.

“We are all devastated with the news of George’s passing,” he said. “He was a dedicated councillor who worked very hard in his ward to represent local people, and he was a hard-working back bencher in the Labour Group. He did a lot of work as governor of the new Ysgol Ffwrnes, and this will be his legacy.

“My heart goes out to his family – his wife Penny, his children and grandchildren. He will be very sadly missed.”

Deputy Leader, Cllr Tegwen Devichand, paid her own heartfelt tribute.

“George was a true Socialist who worked hard in his community and at county level,” she said. “He was very passionate about the ward he represented and would leave no stone unturned to find a resolution to any problems that his constituents brought to his attention.

“He worked with a passion for the success of the Eisteddfod with a view to ensuring the local community and businesses benefited from the event.

“He championed recognition for his ward by being involved with the Llanelli RFC former players association to provide a monument within the new housing complex built on the old Stradey RFC ground to commemorate the great success of the Llanelli Scarlets at the ground from 1872 to 2008.

“He was very proud of his home village of Pwll, and did everything possible to ensure that a good service was delivered to the residents and was driven to making sure that the recreational facilities at Pwll Park would be secured and enhanced with capital projects.

“Today he was due for a photo shoot at the new Furnace school which he had fully supported from day one. It was sad to hear at that event of George’s passing.

“I hope that the work and achievements in the short time he was a county and rural councillor will never be forgotten. The sadness is, that if he had been granted a longer life, he could have achieved much more.

“George was a true gentleman – he treated officers and constituents with respect and dignity; always had a friendly smile in passing to everyone he met. He will be sadly missed by his family, friends, constituents and colleagues.

“My condolences go to his wife Penny and all members of his family. We will miss a true friend and comrade.”