Cllr Rob Evans elected as new county council Chairman

The new Chair of Carmarthenshire County Council said he plans to raise money for two charities close to his heart during his term of office.

Cllr Rob Evans, member for the Dafen and Felinfoel Ward, takes the chain of office whilst celebrating many years as Dafen rural councillor.

Taking the chair, Cllr Evans paid tribute to outgoing chairman Cllr Eirwyn Williams saying ‘he had big boots to fill.’

Cllr Evans will chair the council for the next 12 months, with Cllr Louvain Roberts, member for Glanymor, as his vice chair, and his wife Cllr Nysia Evans as his consort.

“I’m very much looking forward to the year ahead, we are here for the residents and my door is always open,” he said.

Cllr Evans has chosen the Wales Air Ambulance Service and Ty Bryngwyn Hospice in Llanelli, which provides specialist palliative care for the community of Carmarthenshire, as his Chairman’s Charities of the Year.

He said: “Having been a patient at Ty Bryngwyn Hospice I have experienced first-hand how critical this service is – it is a wonderful place and the work they do is incredible. Also, The Welsh Air Ambulance who rely totally on public funding are our angels in the sky, and I have witnessed through my job the marvellous work that they do – they save lives.”

The Chair is the first citizen of Carmarthenshire County Council and is elected at the Annual General Meeting.

Duties include chairing full meetings of the council, representing the council at formal and ceremonial occasions, welcoming visitors to the county, and attending and supporting events organised by local people and organisations.

Cllr Evans has been a county councillor since 2017, and a member of Llanelli Rural Council during 2004-08, 2012- 2017 and present.

He represents the county council in the Dafen and Felinfoel Ward in Llanelli, serves as chairman of the Royal British Legion Llanelli and is on the governing body of Dafen Primary School and Bryngwyn Secondary School.

A former pupil of Coleshill Secondary School, Cllr Evans has worked as a paramedic with the Welsh Ambulance Service, most recently as a state registered paramedic delivering First Aid training and has been awarded two local bravery awards for saving lives.

He is a keen rugby supporter, enjoys fly fishing, travelling and visiting WW1 and WW2 war graves in France.

He is married with two children and two grandchildren.