LLANGUNNOR: Tributes to Mair Lloyd, ‘a great Carmarthen character’, who has died aged 98

Tributes have been paid this week to “a great Carmarthen character” who gave years of faithful service to the community of Llangunnor.

Mair Lloyd was chairman of Llangunnor Community Council on two occasions, was heavily involved in Age Cymru Sir Gar’s knit and natter clubs and was press officer for Carmarthen Fuchsia Club.

Mrs Lloyd died on Wednesday 19 August at Caemaen residential home in Llanelli, aged 98. Before Caemaen she lived at Rhoslas, Tregynnwr, Carmarthen, and before that her home was in Southern Terrace, Pensarn.

The 1987 flood, and a royal visit

She was at the heart of the drama which unfolded in October 1987 when, along with other residents, she had to be rescued by boat after the River Tywi breached the valley defences in one of the worst floods in living memory in Pensarn and Carmarthen.

The then Prince of Wales, Prince Charles, together with his then wife, Princess Diana, were given a guided tour of Mrs Lloyd’s flood-damaged home when they visited the scene.

Mrs Lloyd was the widow of Vincent (Vince) Lloyd, the proprietor of the old Carmarthen Service Station Esso garage in Llangunnor Road, Carmarthen. Mr Lloyd died in 1985.

She is survived by two sons, Richard, a retired teacher living in Gwent, and Robert, the former editor of the Carmarthen Journal and Llanelli Star newspapers. She leaves five grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.

‘Trust, respect and affection’

Carmarthenshire county councillor Alun Lenny described her as “a very dear woman, and a great Carmarthen character”.

Lee Whatley, chairman of Llangunnor Community Council, said: “Mair gave many years of dedicated service to our community, serving as a councillor from July 1979 until February 2007, with a brief period away from the council in 1997, before later returning.

“During her long tenure she held the position of Chair twice, in 1982 and 1992, a reflection of the trust, respect, and affection her fellow members had for her.

“Her contribution to Llangunnor extended well beyond formal meetings. In 1993, she led a Chairman’s Walk, bringing residents together to enjoy and appreciate our local public rights of way while raising funds for restoration work at Llangunnor Church.

“I was always pleased to see her making the effort to attend events held at Babell Chapel and especially my Big Lunch gatherings. Even in her early 90s, she would catch the bus and walk the last stretch up to the chapel, a small act that said so much about her determination, her kindness, and her love for this community.”

Funeral details

Mrs Lloyd’s funeral is on Monday 7 September: a service at Llangunnor Church, Carmarthen, at 10.30am, followed by a committal service at Parc Gwyn Crematorium, Narberth, at 12.15pm.