Sir,

I would like to pay tribute to the work of the County Access Officer, Mr. Trevor Owens, who recently vacated his post with the Pembrokeshire County Council.

Mr. Owens joined te Pembrokeshire Access Group following the setting up of the Unitary Authority.

It was a time of trauma for the Group, as it struggled for financial support and dealing with a much enlarged geographical area. The new officer and the voluntary members worked on basic issues until a constitution was adopted and a comprehensive pattern of work established.

Over the years Mr. Owen became a pivotal member with his encyclopaedic knowledge of access issues. His easy manner endeared him to everyone, and we so appreciated the overwhelming dedication he gave to his duty of serving the disabled public. He had an endless agenda, yet always seemed to have time for everything and everyone.

He was a very firm link between the group and the Authority. Soon we depended on him to organise monthly meetings. His attendance at network meetings throughout the Principality enabled him to raise awareness of good access practice in Pembrokeshire, whilst at the same time considering and putting into future use, the ideas of others, for our benefit.

He was a keen supporter of publicity for access issues, and set up many exhibitions in Voluntary Sector gatherings. The Pembrokeshire Access Group became well known.

Always a practical man, he saw the value of Town Award Schemes, and gave unstintingly of his advice and support. These have undoubtedly improved awareness of the difficulties of disabled people, and have led to vastly enhanced access in buildings used daily by the public.

The dozens of drop-kerbs which now give improved crossing points in streets of most of the county's towns are the result of his efforts. In the production of the Group's 'Guide for Disabled People in Pembrokeshire', he worked so hard on collating information, identifiable coding and attractive display. Along with the Group's input, the final publication was both easy to understand and handle physically.

Plan monitoring and access auditing of public buildings has become vital in meeting the requirements of the Disability Discrimination Act. He helped group volunteers to accomplish these difficult procedures, so that local buildings would meet set requirements.

At a personal level his advice was unfailingly sound and his empathy with difficulties, and determination in solving them, made all things possible.

A quiet, retiring man, with a keen sense of humour, he was never pretentious or obsequious to authority. He hated the red tape of bureaucracy which he frequently challenged. His loathing of discrimination against disabled people was the foundation stone of his value to us all.

His departure will be a sad loss to Pembrokeshire County Council, as his excellent public relations image was an example of how the Statutory Sector can work constructively for the disadvantaged.

There is enormous sadness in the Access Group following his departure, as he was the hub around which all issues and successes revolved.

The disabled public will soon be aware that he has left, as he was always an attentive listener and problem solver.

It is rarely that a voluntary sector group has the privilege of the continuous support of an officer with an amalgam of high ideals and practical efficiency. He will be a very hard act to follow.

We wish him a happy and busy future. His time with us is done and we will always remember his achievements with admiration and gratitude.

Hazel Cook

(Hon. President of the

Pembrokeshire Access Group)

Little Rock House,

St. Julian Street,

Tenby,

Pembrokeshire.