FIRST PERSON: Michael Gray, the last mayor of Islwyn

I was born in Tredegar to Frederick and Miriam Gray who were both members and officers of Vale Terrace Methodist Church in Tredegar.

When I was eight years old, I was taken by my father to the Workmen’s Hall Cinema in Tredegar to listen to the town’s MP Aneurin Bevan holding a monthly meeting

I remember being very impressed by his oratory skills.

My father, who was a fitter at the local colliery, was also a member of the town’s medical aid committee that administered funds, contributed by the miners from their weekly pay, to the town’s residents.

This helped them with medical and dental costs prior to the National Health Service being set up by Aneurin Bevan in the national Labour government.

I became a local preacher when I was 15 years of age, conducting services of worship at the town’s seven Methodist churches and the other eight Methodist churches of the Sirhowy Valley Methodist Church Circuit.

I then started work in 1955 and served a craft apprenticeship as an electrical fitter at the South Wales Factory, Pontllanfraith, and remained with that company until 1965.

During those years I met my wife Ruth on a Saturday night in October (1958) after being invited to a church meeting for young people by a friend.

She was the first person I saw when I arrived and I was really attracted to her. We got married in August 19, 1961.

When I left South Wales Factory, I found employment as a factory technician at the General Post Office Factory in Cwmcarn.

It was here that I served the Post Office Engineering Union, initially as a branch committee person, then assistant branch secretary, branch secretary and branch chairman, representing the employees of the factory at a regional and national level.

This was a major influence to why I decided to get into politics, to improve people’s standards of life.

But I never thought I would end up serving the Cross Keys ward for the next 30 years as a councillor – Islwyn council (1985-95) and Caerphilly (1995-2015).

A lot of it stems from the church. Through the Christian faith we believe in helping and supporting people and this is what the Christian faith is about.

In 1995, I was elected as the last Mayor of the former Islwyn Borough Council, before local government re-organisation in April 1, 1996.

This was when the Islwyn Borough Council amalgamated with the former Rhymney Valley District Council and the counties of Gwent and mid Glamorgan authorities to become Caerphilly County Borough Council.

I continued serving CCBC and was later elected as Mayor of that authority in 2013.

In May 2015 I retired after 30 years unbroken service as the elected councillor for the Cross Keys Ward for health reasons.

As the former mayor of Islwyn and a councillor I’m completely opposed to the (UK government’s) proposed reduction of councillors and that they’re trying to do this by altering the boundaries.

These changes to Islwyn area could see some towns going to Blaenau Gwent, Newport and Caerphilly but I think that Islwyn Borough Council was a good authority.

It was far-seeing, had good council officers and served a good area so I think it should be retained rather than be enveloped and swallowed up into Caerphilly.

After the Islwyn council offices closed in Pontllanfraith last year, there was a lot of memorabilia left over but myself and Ruth were able to save it by finding a home at the Libanus Lifestyle Centre in Blackwood.

All the memorabilia will be erected and serve as a museum for the old Islwyn area and it is through the freemen of the City of London Association that we have been able to save it.

When Islwyn Council finished all sorts of things disappeared, even the mayoral robes and myself and Ruth were very cross about that but also very determined that history couldn’t be lost.

I think it’s very important to preserve that heritage. Although it wasn’t a big authority they did so many things that other authorities never did.

The main issues for councils today include cuts in the budget which they have to work with and having to reduce and cut some of the services that they provide.

But I think the idea of councils co-operating with each other and working together on different services is a good thing because it’s going back to the old system of the old county councils.

I have a keen interest in music and still have close links with Cross Keys Silver band, which I joined in 1970 with my son.

I’m also a retired member of the Communication Workers Union and helped to set up the Risca and Cross Keys Council of Churches, becoming its secretary in 1971.

After serving in that position for over 20 years, I became president and I’m now the treasurer of the ‘Risca and Cross Keys Churches Together’, as it is now called and secretary of the ‘Risca and Cross Keys Christian Aid Committee’, organising fundraising events for that world famous charity.

Currently, I serve as chairman of two school governing bodies — Waunfawr Primary in Cross Keys and Newbridge Secondary School and the secretary of the city of London in Islwyn Association

I also served the Royal British Legion as a member and was the secretary of its Cross Keys branch for 15 years but sadly, due to loss of members in 2015, the branch closed.

I would really like to thank my wife Ruth for her for the support she has given me over the years in many difficult situations.

We have been married 55 years and she’s very much the voice of reason.

We’re both executive members of the South East Wales Brass Band Association, freemen of the city of London and long-standing members and officers of Cross Keys Methodist Church.

We’re very much a team. We keep going and are always busy.

People don’t realise what the valleys are like and how beautiful they are and I have worked and lived here all my life. Looking back on it, I feel that I did the best I could.

I think I have served the community and have really enjoyed working with people and I’m humbled that they appreciate what I have done.