Madam,

Last Wednesday, my whole world shattered.

Being told your husband of 30 years has died when you left him as normal that morning is hard to take in. But thankfully his death was instant, so he did not suffer.

Those that know me, know that I am a very positive person and those 30 years with all the ups and downs of married life has been the most fantastic time of my life. I will hold on to that in the times ahead.

I want to thank everyone for the amazing support I have received in the last few days, I cannot begin to express my gratitude to you all and particularly to my neighbours Matthew and Deborah Kieboom.

Also, a sincere word of thanks to my Independent and Conservative opponents Gethin James and Owen Millward who suspended their campaigning efforts on hearing of Neil’s passing. Such gestures of personal kindness go beyond the pettiness of party politics at election time.

When I decided to stand for election, one of the reasons was because our community cares and this has truly reminded me just how much that is the case.

I am still standing for the Welsh Liberal Democrats in the county council election this Thursday because I feel passionate about the communities of Blaenporth, Blaenannerch, Aberporth and Parcllyn and Neil would want me to keep fighting for what we believed in and to keep filling my life with the things that were important to us.

I hope that residents all vote on Thursday. We don’t know what we have until we’ve lost it.

Yours etc,

Stefani Flower, Welsh Liberal Democrat Candidate, Aberporth Ward.

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