Long-serving councillor becomes Lord Mayor

Cllr Hood-Williams, who has been the ward member for Fairwood since 2004, has taken up his post following an inauguration ceremony at the Council Chamber, The Guildhall.

As Lord Mayor Cllr Hood-Williams will have an important civic and ceremonial role as the city’s official ambassador. He will also be involved in raising money for local good causes.

Lord Mayor Cllr Paxton Hood-Williams represents Fairwood ward, which consists of Three Crosses, Upper Killay and surrounding areas.

Cllr Hood-Williams said: “It is a huge honour and privilege to be serving the communities of Swansea as their Lord Mayor in the coming year.”

“I am really looking forward to getting out and about among the people of this fantastic city, as well as representing Swansea to visitors and as an ambassador at a very exciting time for our communities.”

As part of their year in office Lord Mayors often choose charities to support through fundraising events. This year Cllr Hood-Williams has chosen two local charities -Friends of Stepping Stones and the Killay Forget Me Not club.

Cllr Hood-Williams was born and brought up in Upper Killay and moved to Three Crosses on getting married. He has been a Three Crosses (since the mid-1980s) and Upper Killay (since the early 2000’s) Community Councillor and is passionate about serving the community.

He worked at the Margam steelworks site, before retiring as a senior manager in engineering services in 2004. Since then he’s maintained his extensive involvement in serving his community as Chair of Three Crosses Community Council, a member of Upper Killay Community Council and governor at Crwys and Cila Primary Schools. He said: “I’m inordinately proud of the achievements of the staff, teachers and pupils of both schools.”

He added: “We are so fortunate to live in one of the most beautiful areas of Wales which is just one of the reasons why I’m involved in a number of local organisations looking out for the interests of the Gower AONB.”

Cllr. Hood-Williams and his wife, Patricia, have a daughter, Laura, and two granddaughters, Felicite, currently studying biology and marine biology and Gwenllian, studying aerospace engineering. Their family home is in Berkshire, where Laura’s husband, Stephen, who is a world champion glider pilot, has his aeronautical business.

Cllr Hood-Williams has been a Swansea City fan since the 1950s, and is an armchair spectator of most sports. Additionally, he and wife enjoy getting out into the local environment and that of south and west Wales.

Paxton’s deputy for his term will be Cllr Wendy Fitzgerald.

(Lead image: Swansea Council)

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