Honorary Bailies 2022

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Cyfieithiad i ddilyn....

In 2015, Conwy Town Council began awarding the title of Honorary Bailie to two members of the community to recognise their outstanding voluntary service.

Edward 1’s 1284 Charter for Conwy allows the creation of two Bailies (an alternative word for Bailiff).

Due to the pandemic the Honorary Bailie ceremony was put on hold in 2020 and again in 2021, this year the ceremony has finally taken place after a long wait, where 3 Honorary Bailies were awarded. The ceremony was held on Monday 31st January 2022 for Mrs Denise Hughes of Conwy, Mrs Mel Lewis of Llandudno Junction & Mr Ifor Williams of Deganwy where they were awarded the title of Honorary Bailie by the Mayor of Conwy & Constable of the Castle, Councillor Collette Ryan. Mrs Hughes, Mrs Lewis & Mr Williams received a framed copy of the Charter & a crystal paperweight.

Mrs Hughes became a member of the Conwy Jackdaws Society in the late 70’s, going on to be Chairman and eventually President.

Over 40 years or so she has helped raise thousands and thousands of pounds for local community groups. Mrs Hughes successfully organised all manner of fundraising events, coffee mornings, cheese and wine evenings, garden parties, 200 clubs, hundreds of raffles and more. This resulted in the jackdaw society being able to give generous donations to so many local groups, too many to name here but just to give you some examples Ty Gobaith Children’s Hospice, Clwb yr Efail, Derby and Joan, Girl Guides, Boy Scouts, Cubs, Cadets, local School PTA’s, Youth clubs, McMillian and many more.

Mrs Lewis spends much of her time bringing people together. Through the pandemic she has watched over the ladies who are the “Llandudno Junction knitters” and made sure they were ok. For several years she has encouraged these ladies to work together and be creative, through this they all knitted bunting which was used to decorate Venue Cymru for the Tour de Britain Cycle Race and then they all knitted for the first Llawn festival in Llandudno. The knitting group is still going strong and has raised thousands of pounds for St David’s Hospice amongst many other charities.

Mrs Lewis fought to save the Hotpoint Club in Llandudno Junction, she won the Nationwide Community & Heritage award, and the prize money was put towards a disabled toilet for the club. In 2007 Mrs Lewis was the driving force behind the sale of the “Hotpoint Club” back to the community for the sum of £1 as “The Llandudno Junction Community Club”. She has spent years spearheading fundraising and creating community projects.

Mr Williams, a Welsh Translator was made a Deacon at Peniel Welsh Chapel in Deganwy in 1995 and served as Chapel Secretary for 15 years. He organised many Chapel outings and started the Annual Community Carol services with All Saints Church and Bethel Chapel.  Ifor started the History of Deganwy Group in 2009 and was Secretary until 2 years ago. He has however been the driving force whilst Chairman have come and gone. It began with a few enthusiastic members, and they now have a membership of nearly 90, and going strong.

The History Group have also published a book entitled ‘Flowers on the Path’ by Betty Mills, chronicling her daily walk around the Vardre from All Saints Church to Park Drive. They look after the path and with permission from Mostyn Estates, re-named it ‘Betty’s Path’. The History Group have cared for St Mary’s Well in Llanrhos for many years and have regular gardening and tidying sessions and they have placed an information board there. Five years ago, Ifor started the Castle View Welsh speakers’ group for Welsh speakers to chat in their natural language with others. This has grown to include Welsh learners.

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...Yn ôl i'r rhestr.