New Mayor – Cllr Rhys Lewis Welcomed

Rhondda Cynon Taf Council has welcomed its new Mayor for 2016/17 – Councillor Rhys Lewis. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Born, raised and educated within the County Borough, Cllr Lewis, aged 28 is keen to meet as many people across the County Borough as he can, fundraising for his chosen charities and paying tribute to all those across Rhondda Cynon Taf who selflessly give their time to help others. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cllr Rhys Lewis has been the elected County Borough Councillor for Abercynon since 2012 and is passionate about his local area, taking an active role in his ward as Vice President of Abercynon Male Voice Choir and Lower Cynon Cluster Communities First Board. He is a member of the Abercynon War Memorial Paddling Pool Committee, Abercynon Community Hall Committee and is an avid supporter of Abercynon RFC and Cardiff City F.C. He is also a serving governor for Y.G.G Abercynon. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cllr Lewis said: “It is a huge honour to have been elected as Mayor of Rhondda Cynon Taf by my fellow Councillors. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“We have a lot to be proud of in Rhondda Cynon Taf from talented individuals to caring communities and I am very much looking forward to my year as Mayor during which I will have the opportunity to meet lots of residents, groups and organisations who do so much for their communities and the county borough. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“I am also going to be shining a positive light on the young people of Rhondda Cynon Taf and promoting their many achievements during my time as Mayor. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“I have chosen four charities to support over the next year and would urge all residents to support the Mayor’s Charity Appeal wherever they can to help raise money for these important and worthwhile causes.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cllr Lewis’ chosen Mayoral Charities are: ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

• MIND – Merthyr and the Valleys
• Action for Children
• New Horizons
• ADREF

Cllr Lewis, attended Carnetown Primary School, Our Lady of Lourdes Primary School and Cardinal Newman RC Secondary School, before going on to higher education at the University of Glamorgan to study a BA (Hons) in Politics and History, where he obtained a first class degree. Cllr Lewis then went on to gain an MA in Social and Cultural History at the University of South Wales (Treforest Campus). ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cllr Lewis’ passion for the environment has led him to act as a consultant on a number of green projects in South Wales. He is also a former retail worker and trade union steward. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cllr Lewis can often be seen supporting the Council’s Leisure for Life Campaign and regularly attends Abercynon Leisure Centre. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cllr Lewis will be supported during his year in office by his consort Jamie-Louise Howells, aged 23 who is also born and bred in Abercynon and is a former pupil of Ysgol Gyfun Rhydywaun. Jamie is currently studying for a Masters Degree in Global Governance at the University of South Wales. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The role of Mayor is a far-reaching one, of which raising charity funds is just a part. As the First Citizen of the County Borough, Mayor, Councillor Rhys Lewis will support a number of civic events, including the Council’s important support for Armed Forces Day, Remembrance Day and more. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cllr Craig Middle will be supporting Mayor, Cllr Rhys Lewis in representing Rhondda Cynon Taf and its Communities as Rhondda Cynon Taf’s Deputy Mayor. Cllr Middle is the County Borough Councillor for Tonypandy and is the Armed Forces Champion for Rhondda Cynon Taf. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​