RAY Owen, who gave nearly 40 years of his life to public service and "enriched the community", died on Christmas Day. He was 77.

Tributes have been paid to the Abertillery councillor (pictured) who held the highest honour, the CBE, awarded to anyone in the area.

Peter Law, AM for Blaenau Gwent, said: "He was a man who made a great impact on the community through nearly 40 years of public service and we are obviously going to be much the poorer for his passing.

"He was a man who believed so much in trying to make the community in Abertillery, Gwent - he was a past chairman of the county council - and Wales in general, a better place for people to live in."

Mr Law said his death was a great loss for Abertillery. "He was a fighter who believed in the people here. We don't see people of his calibre these days who gave nearly 40 years of his life and enriched the community."

Blaenau Gwent council leader Councillor John Hopkins said: "He was a gentleman who was very dedicated to his constituency and was very knowledgeable. He had a lot of experience and younger councillors learned very quickly from his experience. He was certainly as asset to the council and will be greatly missed."

Councillor Owen was first elected to Monmouthshire county council, subsequently Gwent county council, in 1965 and was elected to Blaenau Gwent council in 1999. He received the OBE in 1983 for his work in education and a CBE in 1996.

He used to work in the education department at Ebbw Vale steelworks where he installed a library for the apprentices.

A former magistrate, he was also a member of the court and council of the University of Wales for many years and University College Cardiff. He was awarded an honorary MA by Cardiff University. He also represented Wales at the Association of European Regions and was vice-president of the association, assisting Jacques Delors to form the consultative council for European regions.

"He loved it all so much," said Councillor Owen's wife Vi at their home in Pantypwdyn Road, Abertillery. "I don't think he would have altered any of it." He died after a short illness at Blaina District Hospital. The funeral will be on Friday at noon at Ebenezer Chapel, Park Place, Abertillery. Family flowers only, donations to Nantyglo ward, Blaina Hospital, care of the family.