CLLR Ron Jones’ family probably won’t mind us describing him as ‘old school’, not least because we mean it as a compliment.

A serving councillor for almost 50 years, this father and grandfather had spent all his adult life serving the Newport community he represented.

And he did it with pride, passion and with an incredible sense of duty.

The long list of positions he held over five decades, from school governor to chair of planning and chairman of the former Gwent County Council, is testament to that commitment.

Even while waiting for a triple heart by-pass operation, Cllr Jones was not one to sit back and take what surely would have been a well-earned rest.

And in the 24 hours before he died he was judging the floats in the annual Pill carnival he so enjoyed.

And judging by the genuine warmth of the tributes which poured into our office from councillors across the political divide, it is obvious Cllr Jones was well respected by many in public life in Newport where he was the city council’s longest-serving member.

Councillors often come in for a lot of criticism, sometimes justified of course.

But it is also worth remembering that we should also be able to appreciate the hard work and dedication of those who give their total commitment to public service. Not all of us would be prepared to do so.

Cllr Jones was an example to others and we send our condolences to his family.