DYFFRYN Ardudwy has been left “shocked” following the death of a popular community councillor.

Cllr Geraint Wynne, 72, who died last week, served his community council for nearly five decades.

Dyffryn Ardudwy clerk Annwen Hughes was saddened by the loss of her “lifelong friend” but said she will reme­mber him fondly.

“It was a great shock to receive this news on Friday morning that Geraint had passed away,” said Mrs Hughes.

“Geraint was a personal friend of my family for as long as I care to remember and the friendship continued when I got married as my husband and Geraint were also great friends.

“Geraint was involved in many things in the community of Dyffryn and also beyond and was always ready to help with anything that was going on – you only had to pick up the phone to ask for assistance and you knew the answer would always be yes.

“He had been a member of the local community council for going on 50 years and had also been a member of the Meirionnydd District Council and the local Ardudwy Male Voice Choir since a young age.”

Cllr Wynne was also well-known in agricultural circles as he was intr­insic in setting up the annual Meirionnydd Show and took part in proceedings this year as a judge.

He was also president of the Welsh Black Cattle Society in 2011/12.

“Geraint’s Ardudwy herd of Welsh Black cattle are known throughout Wales and the amount of people that attended the dispersal sale was a testimony of their popularity,” continued Mrs Hughes, who is also the Gwynedd county councillor for Llanbedr.

“He was a hard-working member of the Meirionnydd agricultural show and, although not in the best of health, Geraint had done what he could to help organise this year’s show in Harlech.

“I know the local committee are glad they gave him the opportunity to judge the cattle interbreed class this year as he had said to me that he might not get the chance again – how prescient that quote was.

“He had coped with ill-health for a number of years now, but took everything in his stride and had kept going right up until the end.

“He’ll be greatly missed”

Ken Roberts, a committee member of the Meirionnydd Show, decribed Cllr Wynne as a “gentleman”.

“He was on the committee for a quite a number of years – maybe 30? I couldn’t say for sure,” he said. “He was a neighbour of mine and a gentleman, he used to work hard for people.”

Dyffryn Ardudwy Community Council cancelled this week’s scheduled meeting as a mark of respect for Mr Wynne.