A FORMER Mayor of Torfaen has been re-elected to sit on Blaenavon Town Council – a month after her 93rd birthday.

Phyllis Roberts BEM will represent the Blaenavon West ward after receiving 316 votes in the local governmet elections held on Thursday, May 4.

Despite being one of the oldest candidates to be selected at the elections, the 93-year-old, of Ivor Gardens, Blaenavon does not feel her age.

“Well I don’t feel that old to be honest so I just want to get down to it,” she said.

“It is going to be interesting.

“I think that I will have something to contribute and I am quite pleased at the result.”

The former Gwent and Torfaen councillor, as well as the second-ever chairwoman of the Blaenavon Urban District Council, is a former magistrate and received her British Empire Medal (BEM) in 2015 for her services to the community of Blaenavon.

She served at the Mayor of Torfaen in 1983, but after a few years away from the forefront of local politics cllr Roberts is raring to go once again.

“I’m going to make the most of it but we haven’t got a meeting planned just yet,” she said.

“It will involving working with the other people on the council and I will do my best and my part for the town.”

A former newsagent, Mrs Roberts has devoted much of her time and energy to the elderly community of Blaenavon as one of the founders of Age Concern Torfaen, since retiring from work and stepping away from politics before her return.

“I have spent my time on Torfaen council in the past,” said cllr Roberts.

“I don’t want a councillor role which I am paid for – I have worked for 30 years since then and not been paid.

“My only interest, and why I decided to stand for Blaenavon Town Council, is that I want to improve the community and town.

“I’m looking forward to finding out what is going on and doing what I can to help the people of Blaenavon.

“I would like to express my gratitude and thanks to everyone who voted for me in the election.

For the past decade, she has sat as the chairwoman of Blaenavon Over 50s Forum organising and is also vice-president of Blaenavon Male Voice Choir and the president of the Ladies’ Choir.

She was also involved in the town receiving UNESCO World Heritage Status in 2000 for its Industrial Landscape.

The make-up of the 12 person Blaenavon Town Council will be seven Labour members, four Independents and one councillor from Plaid Cymru.

Cllr Roberts was one of seven Labour councillors elected onto Blaenavon Town Council, with Gareth Davies, Jacqueline Denley-Jones and Lewis Evans joining her in the Blaenavon West ward.

Nick Horler (Independent) and Gareth McCann (Plaid Cymru) complete the town councillors for the ward.

The Blaenavon East ward will be split equally with three Labour councillors and three Independent councillors.

Representing Labour will be Samantha Bright, Jackie Huybs and Alan Jones, with the Independent candidates of Stuart Evans, Janet Jones and Barbara Lewis also elected.

There were 16 candidates vying for the town council positions.