One of Pembrokeshire's longest serving councillors lost her seat in a shock county council election result last week.
Saundersfoot's Rosemary Hayes was ousted from the village's seat by her community council colleague, Phil Baker. He polled 145 more votes than Mrs. Hayes, who has enjoyed a colourful 25 years serving on local authority. A former chairman of South Pembrokeshire District Council and the first woman chairman of Pembrokeshire County Council in 2001, Mrs. Hayes, also the council representative on Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, was awarded the prestigious MBE in 2003 for services to the community in Pembrokeshire.
After his victory, Clr. Baker said: "I am delighted and honoured to have been elected to represent all of the villagers and businesses of Saundersfoot at County Hall. I spent a number of weeks trying to meet as many people as possible and was delighted with the response and eventual turnout. "It is extremely humbling when people actually turn up and cast their vote and I now have to build on that support and continue to demonstrate my love of and commitment to the village. "I would take this opportunity to thank everybody for the time that they took to read my handout and talk to me on their doorsteps. I also deliver a huge vote of thanks to my family and friends, without whose support I could not have even considered standing for county council. "In addition, I would thank Rosemary Hayes for having served as Saundersfoot's county councillor over the recent years and she was a strong and worthy opponent during the election campaign."
Another to lose his seat in last Thursday's polls was postmaster John Murphy who was ousted from the Kilgetty/Begelly ward. He was beaten by David Pugh, who netted 141 more votes. Clr. Pugh said: "I am delighted and honoured to have been elected by the people of Kilgetty and Begelly wards to represent them on Pembrokeshire County Council. "My message during the election campaign was Time for Change - Time for Action. Well the change has been made and now is the time for positive action. "I intend to start work immediately on a number of ideas and initiatives that came to the fore during my campaign and hopefully these will bring real benefit to the whole community."
Elsewhere locally, other contests failed to generate any upsets, with sitting members Clrs. Tony Brinsden (Amroth), David Neale (Carew), David Simpson (Lampeter Velfrey), Malcolm Calver (Manorbier), Elwyn Morse (Narberth Rural), Carol Cavill (Penally) and Michael Williams (Tenby North) all retaining their seats. Controversial councillor Brian Hall also kept his Pembroke Dock Market ward seat ,beating former AM, Christine Gwyther.
TENBY TOWN COUNCIL
Tenby's Mayor and Deputy Mayor were axed from their council positions in a surprise election result. Mayor John Griffiths and Deputy Mayor Kerri Durham lost their seats in the hotly contested north ward battle. The former Hong Kong Police Chief Superintendent, who joined the council in 2004, is believed to be the first Mayor in living memory not to retain a seat when seeking re-election. The council will now be meeting tonight (Friday) to swear in the new members and also nominate a Mayor-elect for the coming year.
It was also a bitter blow for Mrs. Durham, who has served on the council for the last seven years, as her uncle, Clr. Trevor Hallet, topped the poll, and her mother, Clr. Caroline Thomas, was re-elected in the south ward. A third councillor, Damian Brown, also lost out in the south ward. The losers have made way for new faces to the council chamber, Mike Thorne in the north ward, and Sandra Williams, Trisha Putwain and Karen Hart in the south.
And it now looks like a case of 'girl power' on the council, with nine women members and four men. Said town clerk, Andrew Davies: "Mayor of Tenby is selected annually and is not necessarily always going to be the Deputy Mayor. "The town council is meeting tonight (Friday) to swear in the new council and then elect a Mayor." The Mayor-elect will then only have one week before donning the traditional scarlet robes of office at the official Mayor-making ceremony on Friday, May 16.
Narberth Town Council
In Narberth, County Councillor Wynne Evans won back the seat he controversially vacated in June 2006. He came second behind former Mayor, Henry Langen, who topped the urban ward poll, which saw 13 candidates standing for the 10 seats, with Susie Lincoln, the only councillor failing to be re-elected.
FULL RESULTS
PEMBROKESHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL
Amroth: Tony Brinsden (Liberal Democrat) 354; Dilys Carolyn Jenkinson (Welsh Conservative Party) 181. Carew: Nigel Birt-Llewellin (Welsh Conservative Party) 136; David James Neale 301; Norman Richard Parry 115. Kilgetty/Begelly: John Scott Murphy (Independent) 342; David John Pugh (Independent) 483. Lampeter Velfrey: Jo Hammond (Welsh Conservative Party) 183; David Simpson (Independent) 427. Manorbier: Malcolm Calver (Independent) 353; Paul Robert Diment (Plaid Cymru - The Party of Wales) 52; Ray Hine (Independent) 99; Ray Hughes (Independent) 192; Tony Wales (Labour Party) 284. Narberth rural: Jayne Louise Jones 238; Elwyn Albert Morse (Independent) 353; Derek Graham Williams (Welsh Conservative Party) 85. Pembroke Dock Central: Kate Becton (Labour Party) 274; Maureen Tegwyn Colgan (Welsh Conservative Party) 162. Pembroke Dock Llanion: Darren Charles Esmond (Welsh Conservative Party) 236; Steven James Lade 211; Sue Perkins (Labour Party) 416. Pembroke Dock Market: Steve Bale (Independent) 103; Christine Gwyther (Labour Party); Brian John Hall 274. Pembroke Dock Pennar: Sue Bale (Independent) 89; Martin William Cavaney (Independent) 327; Tony Wilcox (Labour Party) 669. Pembroke Monkton: Keira Dansie (Welsh Liberal Democrats) 32; David William Edwards (Labour Party) 97; Pearl Llewellyn (Independent) 341; Keith John McNiffe 30. Pembroke St. Mary North: Nikki Anderson (Independent) 140; Stephanie Kate Ashley (Welsh Liberal Democrats) 53; Tom Barrass (Labour Party) 196; Arwyn/Al Williams 230. Pembroke St. Mary South: Alison Jones (Welsh Liberal Democrats) 54; Rosalie Vera Lilwall (Independent) 239; Jane Major (Labour Party) 100; Darren James Richards (Welsh Conservative Party) 118. Pembroke St. Michael: Aden Arthur Brinn (Welsh Conservative Party) 527; Gareth Jones (Welsh Liberal Democrats) 384; Eirug Daniel Roberts (Plaid Cymru - The Party of Wales) 104. Penally: Carol Cavill (Plaid Cymru - The Party of Wales) 410; Di Clements (Welsh Conservative Party) 210. Saundersfoot: Phil Baker 549; Rosemary Rebecca Hayes (Independent) 404. Tenby North: Jill King (Welsh Conservative Party) 95; Sue Lane (Independent) 104; Michael Williams (Plaid Cymru - The Party of Wales) 606. Whitland: Susan Margaret Allen (Independent) 593; Beryl Vivienne Beaufoy Morris (Labour Party) 219.
Unopposed candidates
East Williamston: Jim Codd (Independent). Hundleton: John Seymour Allen-Mirehouse (Independent). Lamphey: Clive John Collins (Independent). Martletwy: Robert Mark Lewis (Independent). Narberth: Wynne Edwin Evans (Independent). Tenby South: Mike Evans (Independent).
TOWN AND COMMUNITY COUNCIL RESULTS
Tenby Town Council North Ward (six seats): Kerri Durham 243; Julie Evans 323 Elected; John Hendy Tudor Griffiths (Independent) 310; Trevor Hallett 530 Elected; Sue Lane (Independent) 493 Elected; Paul David Rapi 366 Elected; Patricia Margaret Rossiter (Independent) 522 Elected; Mike Thorne 373 Elected. Tenby Town Council South Ward (seven seats): Christine Elizabeth Brown 247 Elected; Damian Brown 102; Mike Evans (Independent) 435 Elected; Karen Hart (Independent) 307 Elected; Trisha Putwain (Independent) 317 Elected; Caroline Thomas 340 Elected; Maureen Ward 258 Elected; Sandra Williams (Independent) 363 Elected. Narberth Town Council Urban (10 seats): Raymond Edward Benson 190; Wynne Edwin Evans 538 Elected; Eric Feetham 483 Elected; Henry Langen 534 Elected; Susan Lincoln 280; David Gordon Norcross 430 Elected; Ruth Parry Platt 458 Elected; James Richard Price 263; Suzanne Kay Radford- Smith 303 Elected; Sue Rees 434 Elected; Denise Rigby 350 Elected; Elizabeth Rogers 448 Elected; Colin David Williams 514 Elected. Pembroke Town Council Monkton Ward (three seats): Dillwyn Morgan Davies 257 Elected; Wynford Ian Henry Jenkins 269 Elected; Pearl Llewellyn 394 Elected; Keith John McNiffe 75. Pembroke Town Council - St. Mary North Ward (four seats): Nikki Anderson (Independent) 357 Elected; Linda Anne Asman (Independent) 211 Elected; Tom Barrass (Labour Party) 307 Elected; Mary-Rose Blackburn 302 Elected; George Relleen 208. Pembroke Dock Town Council - Market Ward (three seats): Christine Gwyther (Labour Party) 366 Elected; Brian John Hall 373 Elected; Tim McMahon 227; Andrew James McNaughton 266 Elected. Pembroke Dock Town Council - Pennar Ward (five seats): Maureen Tegwyn Colgan 387 Elected; Liz Cook 574 Elected; Pat Folland (Labour Party) 384; Carolyn Fortune (Labour Party) 582 Elected; Philip Gregory Gwyther (Independent) 487 Elected; Tony Wilcox (Labour Party) 803 Elected. Amroth Community Council: Alan Davies 178 Elected; Sue Enfield 126; Peter William Greenway 130; Roger Harries 167 Elected; Glyndwr James 134 Elected; Martyn Andrew 160 Elected; George Jones 155 Elected; George Bernard Lawrence 176 Elected; Joyce Lewis 225 Elected; Pat Lucas 103; Jacqueline Pearce 138 Elected; Cynthia June Scourfield-Lewis (Independent) 115; Kelvin Thomas 163 Elected; Peter Waddilove 74; Peter Williams 132. Clunderwen Community Council: Walter John Kenneth Davies 247 Elected; Edward Ernest Fussell 144; Stephen James (Independent) 221 Elected; Dewi Wyn John 190 Elected; Robert Meurig Jones 160 Elected; David Parry Lloyd (Independent) 174 Elected; Terry Alan Morris 242 Elected; Leslie Wynne Owen 181 Elected; Susan Kathryn Richards 205 Elected.