Retired farmer is new council chairman (From Western Telegraph)

Retired farmer is new council chairman

A retired farmer has been elected the seventh chairman of Pembrokeshire County Council.

Councillor Leslie Raymond MBE, who represents Solva and Brawdy on the authority, takes office almost 30 years to the day that he began in local government.

He succeeds the first woman chairman, Councillor Mrs Rosemary Hayes, of Saundersfoot.

Pembrokeshire-born and bred, Councillor Raymond has been a member of the county council since it became substantive in 1996.

He began his involvement in local government when he was elected to Haverfordwest Rural District Council in May 1972. He served on Preseli Pembrokeshire District Council from its inception in 1974, becoming chairman in 1988.

For 40 years he has been one of the best known figures locally in the agricultural world, farming at Pointz Castle, Penycwm.

Councillor Raymond is a former chairman of the Pembrokeshire branch of the National Farmers Union and until last year had been its treasurer for 20 years. He is also a former chairman and board member of the executive of the Clynderwen Farmers Co-op.

In 1991 he was awarded the MBE for services to agriculture. He and his wife Gwen have been married 48 years and have three grown-up daughters. Mrs Raymond is a former magistrate and tax commissioner.

Councillor Raymond was elected to office at Pembrokeshire County Councils annual meeting. Afterwards, Councillor Mickey Folland, who represents Tenby South, was elected vice-chairman.