Tributes paid to former mayor and Penyrheol councillor Anne Collins

Tributes have been paid to former Caerphilly County Borough Mayor Anne Collins, who passed away last week.

Mrs Collins, who was born in Senghenydd and represented the Penyrheol ward, died at her home on Thursday evening at the age of 72.

Her Penyrheol ward colleague Lindsay Whittle, who is also the Assembly Member for South Wales East, paid tribute to his Plaid Cymru colleague.

He said: “Anne was a dear friend who worked tirelessly for the community she was proud to represent since 1985.

“She was loved by everyone and Cwm Ifor Primary School, where she was a past chair of governors, is in shock.

“Anne was also chair of Caerphilly Committee of Save The Children and was in the midst of organising a major fundraising concert in what is its 60th anniversary year.”

Anne has been a supporter of the charity since 1969 and took over the chair last year.

Mr Whittle added: “I will miss Anne enormously and my thoughts at this difficult time go out to her family. She was a wonderful person.”

Colin Mann, leader of the Plaid group on the council, said: “Anne was a lovely lady who treated everyone as a friend. She was a very valuable colleague and was respected by all elected members and officers at the council.

“She had given huge service to her community over many years and the respect that she had earned in her community was shown by the fact that she was always re-elected to represent the people of Penyrheol, Trecenydd and Energlyn.

“Anne did a wonderful job representing the county borough in the years that she was Mayor and Deputy Mayor. She will be sorely missed by everyone, by her Plaid Cymru colleagues, by her many friends in the Caerffili and District Twinning Association, both here and in Brittany and by all those in the many organisations she had worked with over the years.”

Caerphilly Council leader Harry Andrews described Mrs Collins as “dedicated”.

He said: “Anne was a long serving and much respected councillor for Penyrheol, who was dedicated to promoting the interests of her community and the people she represented. Our thoughts are very much with her family, especially her sister Cllr Margaret Sargent and son John at this difficult time.”

Mrs Collins enjoyed a long and active career in the health service, which spanned over 30 years covering the communities of Senghenydd, Lansbury Park, Llanbradach, Abertridwr and Penyrheol.

Her career in politics started with her election as an Independent councillor in 1985 to the Penyrheol Community Council. A few years later, Anne joined the Plaid Cymru group and in 1999 she was elected to serve on Caerphilly County Borough Council. She was also the council’s Mayor throughout 2008/09.

She was also a founding member of the Caerphilly and District Lannion Twinning Association.

Mrs Collins leaves a son, John. Her late husband, Cyril was also a former Plaid Cymru councillor and her sister Margaret Sargent, represents Penyrheol ward on the council.