Article
Tributes paid to former Council Leader Alun Thomas OBE
07 March 2025
Tributes were made to former Leader of Neath Port Talbot Council Alun Thomas at a meeting of Council on Wednesday (March 5th).
Alun, who was fondly referred to as Ali by friends and colleagues, sadly passed away last week.
Born and raised in Onllwyn, Ali was a former miner who dedicated his life to public service. Representing Onllwyn as local ward councillor, he served as Leader of Neath Port Talbot Council from May 2009 until his retirement from local government in 2017. Prior to this he was Deputy Leader of Neath Port Talbot Council from 2004.
His dedication to local government was recognised with numerous accolades, including Local Politician of the Year 2011, an OBE for Services to Local Government in Wales in 2014, and an Honorary Doctorate from Swansea University in 2015. In April 2017, he was made an Honorary Freeman of the County Borough.
Ali was well-known throughout the National Labour movement in Britain and represented Neath Port Talbot on the Local Government Association, Welsh Local Government Association, and the Industrial Communities Alliance.
His contributions to voluntary work began at the young age of 14, and he continued to serve as a committee member of Pantyffordd Village Hall and Onllwyn Miners Welfare Hall, where he was General Secretary for 18 years. He was also a founder member and life member of the Onllwyn Male Voice Choir.