TRIBUTES have been paid to former county and borough councillor, Bill Jenkins, who died on Sunday, aged 67.
A member of Weston Rhyn Parish Council, Cllr Jenkins was a stalwart of the village and St Martins, where he was born and raised, attending Ifton Heath Primary School and the St Martins Secondary Modern - now Rhyn Park Secondary School - as one of its first pupils, before following in his father’s footsteps at the age of 15 when he went to work at St Martin’s Ifton Colliery. He later worked at Gresford Colliery in Wrexham, before going into engineering, working at Fabdec, Ellesmere.
It was during this time that Cllr Jenkins, who lived in Oak Drive, stood as Borough councillor for St Martins, holding the role for 16 years, until May 2003. He also served as a St Martins parish councillor and county councillor for the Weston Rhyn division, becoming a valued member of several community groups, including the Flood Forum and the Tenants Association, as well as the Labour Party and trade union, Unite.
His daughter, Sue, said a political highlight was when her father was made an Alderman of the Borough Council: “That blew him away. He was so pleased to be recognised in that way,” she said. “He did a lot for the communities in both villages. He was proud of being a miner and was approachable, he had the common touch.”
She added that his death had come as a shock for herself, her partner, Steve, and her mother Mary, who was married to Cllr Jenkins for 46 years: “He was a big family man with a great sense of humour.”
Chairman of Weston Rhyn Parish Council, Glyn Evans, said Cllr Jenkins death was a “great loss” to the villages he had served.
Funeral arrangements have yet to be announced.