Former army officer takes the chairman's chain

12:37pm Thursday 22nd May 2008

Councillor Robin Evans of Newport was elected to the office of chairman at Pembrokeshire County Council's annual meeting today (Thursday).

Proposed for office by Councillor John Davies, Council Leader, and seconded by Councillor Arwyn Evans, Councillor Evans is the Authority's 13th Chairman.

Brought up in Boncath, Councillor Evans went to Sandhurst after leaving school, subsequently serving with the Royal Tank Regiment in England and Germany. He also served in the Congo as part of the United Nations Force, while on a secondment to the Ghanian Army.

After he left the Army, Councillor Evans trained as a chef at Bristol with the legendary chef Keith Floyd, a friend and fellow ex-army officer.

Returning to Pembrokeshire in 1971, he took over The Pantry Restaurant in Newport, which he ran for 16 years, achieving entries in the Egon Ronay and Good Food guides.

Councillor Evans' consort will be his stepdaughter, Mrs Tina Shevlin, who also lives in Newport with her family.

A vote of thanks to the Councillor's outgoing Chairman, Bill Roberts, was proposed by Deputy Leader, Councillor John Allen-Mirehouse.

The new Vice-Chairman of Pembrokeshire County Council is Councillor Anne Hughes of Milford Haven. A retired Practice Administrator at Robert Street Surgery, Councillor Hughes represents the Milford Haven Central ward.

She was proposed by Councillor Rosalie Lillwall and seconded by Councillor Peter Stock.