The Farmers’ Union of Wales (FUW) is mourning the loss of its life member Gwilym Jones, who sadly passed away aged 89.
Jones of Ty Cerrig, Llanrhaeadr YM, Oswestry, Salop, was vice president of the FUW between 1982 and 1986 and again during 1990 and 1993.
He was elected a life member of the FUW during 1995 in acknowledgement of his service to the FUW.
Gwilym Jones was born into farming stock and has always worked on the land. In 1957, he bought his first farm, Ty Cerrig, at Llanrhaeadr YM near Oswestry and started out milking just three cows by hand.
He joined the FUW in 1958, but it was not until the late ’60s that he became chairman of the Tanant Valley Branch, serving on the Denbigh County Executive Committee.
He was also elected onto the Milk Committee, of which he was chairman for two years from 1979 when he was made vice president – a position he held for 11 years.
‘A true champion of the union’
He represented the union on the Welsh Agricultural College Committee and was an Additional Member of the Finance and Organisation Committee between 1993 and 1994 and represented the union on the Young Farmers’ Clubs Committee.
Responding to the news, FUW president Glyn Roberts said: “Our thoughts and best wishes are with his family at this sad time.
Gwilym will always be fondly remembered by the FUW’s staff and members; he was a true farming stalwart and champion of the union.
A public celebration of Gwilym’s life will be held at Capel Seion, Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant at 2:00pm on Tuesday, October 9.
