Tributes to former Denbigh mayor

Aug 28 2008 By David Simister

TRIBUTES have been paid to a former Denbigh mayor and charity campaigner who passed away earlier this week after a brave battle with cancer.

David Jones, who was 67, died last Tuesday [August 26] at his home in the town after a prolonged fight with the disease, leading residents and politicians to remember a well known Welsh internationalist.

"It’s obviously a huge loss but what is so wonderful is knowing that he touched so many lives in a deep way. The whole community has been affected" said Maggie Winters, David’s sister.

"He was a very quiet man but also a very principled one. I remember when years ago he refused to present a cup at the Denbigh Hunt because of his views on fox-hunting - he got a lot of flak for it at the time but it showed his determination and integrity shone through."

Jones’ former colleague and Denbigh councillor Raymond Bartley also praised the former mayor.

"I’ve known David for many years and worked alongside him when we were both on the Town Council together, and he’s always someone I’ve held in very high esteem" he said.

"I recall vividly his ambition of opening the Canolfan Iaith Clwyd in Denbigh, and he achieved this in particular with great dignity. I know he will be greatly missed and I send my sympathies to his family."

As well as being a popular mayor of the town, Jones was well known for his work in encouraging Clwyd’s international relationships. He arranged visits to the region from overseas ambassadors from countries including Vietnam, Nicaragua, Bulgaria, and Cuba, and also founded the Wales-Cuba Solidarity Society.

Closer to home he also fostered development of the Welsh language across Clwyd, leading a county-wide campaign to set up a Welsh language development centre. The resulting centre, now operating under the name of Welsh Unlimited (Popeth Cymraeg), is responsible for running Welsh courses across North East Wales.

"David was a very special person, a character of strong convictions, but also someone who got along with everyone. Because of his wide interests and his warm personality he had close friends from across the political and cultural spectrum. We in Popeth Cymraeg will miss him very much" said Ioan Talfryn, Director of Welsh Unlimited.

The Denbigh politician’s last project was establishing the charity Wireless Wales, which saw him donate a collection of old radios to Canolfan Iaith Clwyd. The permanent exhibition, accompanied by a book Jones wrote on the subject of radio and its role in developing the Welsh language, opens next month [October 10].

He leaves a wife, Vesi, a daughter, Awena who is married to Marcius and lives in Brazil and a son Deian, who currently lives in Australia.