Tributes have been paid to a “very special” woman and a “true champion of Aberystwyth” who served as the first female mayor of the town.

Mona Morris MBE, who first served as town mayor in 1978 and held the role for a second time in 1990, passed away this week aged 89.

Mona was a long-standing councillor in the town and “touched many lives” with her community work, her family said.

Daughter Wendy Morris, who followed Mona’s footsteps when she herself became Aberystwyth mayor in 2013, said the family would “like to thank everyone for their kind heartfelt words and messages”.

“They have mirrored what we felt and knew, Mona Morris was a very special, extraordinary person who touched so many people’s lives,” Wendy told the Cambrian News.

“She led a full life and never missed an opportunity to enrich it and try something new.

“She encouraged us all to take what life has offered us and run with it. If it didn’t quite work out it wasn’t a problem, it was just not meant to be; never a failure, just a lesson - get up, shake it off and move on.

“We are so going to miss her wise words, advice and encouragement.

“She may no longer be with us in person but will be in spirit, and we can guarantee you she’ll never be forgotten.

“Thank you for making us the beautiful family we are today.”

Ceredigion AM Elin Jones said that Mona’s passing was “sad” but that she was “grateful to have learnt so much” from a “stalwart of Aberystwyth Town Council” when Ms Jones was first elected to it in 1991.

“She was formidable and a rarity in local politics as a long-standing female councillor,” Ms Jones said.

“She was a true champion of Aberystwyth.

“She seemed to encapsulate the town’s spirit.

“She could be stern, but always with a cheeky laugh.”

Mona was the devoted wife of the late John (Jack); loving mother to the late Keith, Rowland and Wendy; cherished grandmother of Heather, Carys, Jonathan, Ceri-Sian, Abbie, Ffion-Jac, Anwen-Sam and beloved great-grandmother of Millie, Annabelle, Dexter and Trystan.