Narberth’s newly installed Mayor has said that the town’s secret to success is community spirit, which has always come up trumps, ‘when the chips are down!’

At Narberth Town Council’s Annual General Meeting held earlier this month, Clr. Christopher Walters passed on his Mayoral Chain and First Citizen duties to Clr. Sue Rees, who had been his Deputy Mayor.

Clr. Mrs. Rees said she had the honour of becoming Narberth’s Mayor for the first time twenty years ago, in 2001, just after all the excitement of the new millennium had subsided.

“I followed in the footsteps of many great councillors, who had been given the mantle of Mayor of Narberth, as a reward for their service to the community, she said.

“In 2021, I have been given that honour for the fourth time, but now we are hopefully coming out of the very worst, sad year, when everyone is praying that we can get back to normal.

“Through the years, I have often been told how lucky I am to live in Narberth, what a lovely town it is, with such a vibrant High Street, and the people are always so friendly; and I agree. Members of other councils and their officers have often asked, what is Narberth’s secret, and I always answer the ‘community’.

“Narberth Town Council has always been made up of ‘active members of our community’, who hold no personal agendas, except to do the best they can for their community and the town; and we work well together.

“The Town Council has been represented on every community committee in the town over the years; and many local facilities only exist because of the work of the town council, and some committees consist solely of councillors.”

Clr. Mrs. Rees said that the town council has been the ‘instigators of change’ for the better, leading battles against bureaucracy and local authorities, to save facilities that the community considered to be vital.

She pointed out that there would be no assets such as Bloomfield House, Queens Hall, SwimNarberth, Play Park, the library, whilst the ‘lovely Old School’ would have been demolished, to say nothing of Civic Week and the many other groups and events in the town.

“We need new younger people, who can match that criteria, to bring their skills and experience, and join us to help Narberth get it’s mojo back,” she continued.

“Narberth Town Council and all our community groups, need new younger members to come on board, to help, without reward and learn what community is really about.

“The councillors go quietly, giving up their time for free, but I doubt many people, if asked, could name more than one. But, when the call has gone out for support, the ‘community’ has always come up trumps in support of the cause.

“When the chips are down, we just carry on, and ‘Narberth’ has the credit it deserves; that is Narberth’s secret.

“I thank the community of Narberth for allowing me to be a Narberth Town Councillor and enabling me to become Mayor of Narberth once again in 2021,” added Clr. Mrs. Rees.