Tributes are pouring in for Cllr Mair Stephens, deputy chair of Carmarthenshire County Council, who died on Sunday, January 9, following a bravely fought illness.

The flags are at half mast across the county for the leader of the independent group of county councillors, with Cllr Emlyn Doe leading the tributes.

The leader of the county council said:

“The Mair we all knew and appreciated was industrious and meticulous with an attention to detail that was phenomenal. She gave it her all, whether it was in her work as a councillor for St Ishmaels, in her voluntary associations, or indeed her family life.

“She has been a thorough and conscientious councillor for many years. She has served as my able deputy for these past seven years and was absolutely committed and supportive in that role as she was in her leadership of the Independent Group.

“With her passing - as her colleagues and fellow councillors - we are all diminished. She will be so greatly missed but equally remembered by us all.”

Cllr Stephens, of Llansaint, was elected to Carmarthenshire County Council in 2004 as member for the St Ishmaels ward, covering the communities of Llandyfaelog, Ferryside, Llansaint, Cwmffrwd and Bancycapel.

Furthermore, she served on the council’s cabinet with responsibility for council business and transformation, strategic planning, human resources and training, ICT, audit and performance management.

In addition to her services at the county council, Cllr Stephens was a member of Llandyfaelog Community Council for more than 40 years and served as national chair of the Wales Association of Community and Town Councils, where she was instrumental in the formation of One Voice Wales.

Cllr Stephens was very passionate about the Women’s Institute, serving as county organiser for Carmarthenshire and as chair of the WI's Federations of Wales Committee.

She will also be remembered for the county’s annual Christmas Toybox Appeal, which distributed more than 7,500 gifts to 1,200 children in 2021.

Wendy Walters, chief executive of Carmarthenshire County Council, said: “On behalf of all those officers that worked closely with Mair, we offer our heartfelt condolences to her family - we hope that in a small way they may help during this very sad time.”