A councillor who served his community for five decades and who spearheaded the creation of Shopmobility in Wrexham has died.
Jack Lloyd-Edwards, of Weston Road, New Broughton, had developed bronchial pneumonia and died at Wrexham Maelor Hospital. He was 91.
Mr Lloyd-Edwards was a Labour councillor for Wrexham Maelor Borough Council until 1996, and served on Broughton Community Council for more than 50 years until he became ill.
His son David, 57, said his father will be best remembered for his instrumental role in the creation of Shopmobility, a service on King Street, which operates a fleet of manual and electrically powered wheelchairs and scooters for use by anyone with mobility problems.
David told the Leader: “He was quite active and still driving up until the age of 89.
“He was very modest and kind and took credit for hardly anything, but in the council chamber he would speak very determinedly.
“He was one of the big instigators of Shopmobility. He enjoyed woodwork and photography and loved to develop his own photographs.”
Montgomeryshire-born Mr Lloyd-Edwards worked as a farmer before he joined the RAF and served in Italy during the Second World War.
After the war he worked as a bus driver for Crosville on top of his duties as a councillor, and was also a governor at St Christopher’s School.
Delyn AM Sandy Mewies, who worked with Mr Lloyd-Edwards in bringing Shopmobility to Wrexham, said: “I am very sad to hear of the death of Jack Lloyd-Edwards.
“It was a privilege to work with him to bring Shopmobility to Wrexham after I had seen it operating elsewhere.
“It proved an immediate success, not only for local people with mobility issues, but also to a wider geographic area, bringing people to shop into the town who had previously found it very difficult or impossible to do.
“Jack was keenly interested in fighting for the rights of people with disability issues but I also remember him as a councillor who cared deeply about his community and worked hard to represent all his constituents.”
Wrexham Council leader Neil Rogers was a friend of Mr Lloyd-Edwards, and was saddened to hear about his death on January 9.
He added: “Jack was a lifelong campaigner for people with disabilities, and was a member of Broughton Community Council for more than 50 years. He will be sadly missed.”
Mr Lloyd-Edwards’ funeral will be held tomorrow at Capel Y Groes in Wrexham at 2.15pm followed by a service at Pentrebychan Crematorium at 3.30pm.
Donations in his memory will be made to Hope House Children’s Hospices.