THE current Mayor of Wrexham has paid tribute to a predecessor who has died.

John Thomas, who lived in Rhos, was mayor of the former Wrexham Maelor Borough Council in 1981/82.

He served as a Wrexham Maelor borough councillor for 15 years.

Originally from Barmouth, he moved to Rhos to teach at Ysgol y Grango and later became deputy head teacher at Ysgol Morgan Llwyd in Wrexham.

Hundreds attended his funeral at Capel Mawr, Rhos, yesterday and heard many heartfelt tributes to his commitment to his community, his dedication to his wife Mair and his family as well as his work as a teacher and as a lay preacher.

The present Mayor of Wrexham, Cllr Arwel Gwynn Jones, said of him: “John was held in very high esteem by other mayors and councillors.

“He will be greatly missed by those of us who were privileged to have worked with him over the years.”

Cllr Marc Jones, Plaid Cymru group leader on Wrexham council, said: “John Thomas was Plaid Cymru’s very first councillor on the old Maelor council and carried the flag in difficult times.”