Article
Mayor of Neath Port Talbot addresses full Council at first meeting of the year
10 January 2025
Addressing a full meeting of Council on Wednesday, 8th January 2025, the Mayor of Neath Port Talbot, Cllr. Matthew Crowley paid tribute to his uncle, Noel Crowley, who passed away in December 2024.
Noel Crowley was first elected to represent the Sandfields East Ward in May 1979, serving as a Councillor for 25 years until his retirement in 2004.
Mr. Crowley was elected as the first Leader of the new Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council following Local Government reorganisation on 1st April 1996, and he led this new Council for its first eight years.
He said: “Noel achieved many accolades throughout his political career, he was Mayor of the Borough of Port Talbot from 1993–1994 and Leader of that Council from 1995-1996. He was made a Freeman of the Borough of Port Talbot, awarded the CBE in the Queen’s New Years Day honour list and the Order of St John. He served as Deputy Lord Lieutenant of West Glamorgan and was awarded the Pro Ecclesia Et Pontifice for distinguished service to the Catholic Church.”
The Mayor also paid tribute to former Councillor Audrey Chaves who passed away in December. Mrs. Chaves represented the Sandfields West ward from 2012 to 2017.
He added: “In happier news, it gives me great pleasure to announce that two residents in Neath Port Talbot have been named in the New Year’s Honours list. They are Mr Andrew Vaughan John, Chair of Aberavon Rugby Football Club, for services to Charity and to Business, and Mr David John James from Neath, Secretary of Ceredigion County Bowling Association, for Voluntary Service.