Wrexham Councillor Passes Away After Long Battle With Illness

Tributes have been paid to a Wrexham Councillor who died following a long battle with illness.

Arwel Gwynn Jones, who was councillor for the Pant ward and a former Mayor of Wrexham, passed away earlier this week aged 77.

He served as headteacher of Ysgol Bodhyfryd for more than 20 years and was the honorary president of the Eisteddfod when it came to Wrexham last year as well a Fellow of Glyndwr University.

Alwyn Humphreys who has known Cllr Jones for 27 years paid tribute to his friend.

He said: “It is with profound personal sadness that I learned of the passing of my friend of 27 years. I worked for him as school cleaner in the 80’s, more recently as vice chair to him on the Gardden Road Community Committee. A man who genuinely cared more than he’ll ever be given credit for.”

The Mayor of Wrexham, Cllr Ian Roberts, joined the tributes, he said: “Arwel took great pride in serving the Pant Ward and the wider Wrexham Community. He will be missed by his fellow councillors.

“Arwel was a hard-working Mayor who raised a massive £39,000 for local charities through his “year of the child” initiative. He spent two decades as head teacher of Ysgol Bodhyfryd and was a passionate advocate of the Welsh language.

“He was delighted when the National Eisteddfod came to Wrexham last year and spoke of his pride after being made an honorary president of the festival.

“We knew Arwel had not been well for quite some time and we are all deeply saddened by his death. I am sure everyone at Wrexham Council will join me in paying tribute to Arwel and passing on our condolences to his family and friends at this sad time.”

Professor Michael Scott, Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive of Glyndŵr University said: “Arwel was a very good friend to Glyndŵr University and to the whole of Wrexham. His enthusiastic support for education, music and the Welsh language was an inspiration for us all.

“He provided considerable sound counsel to us at Glyndŵr University in the years following our establishment as a University and was always ready with advice and guidance. One of his latest ventures was to spearhead a campaign to raise money for a statue to Owain Glyndŵr, the scholar, which he launched at the Eisteddfod last August. He will be sadly missed.”

As a mark of respect the University will be flying its flags at half mast until after the funeral.