WARM tributes have been paid to a former chairman of Monmouthshire County Council who was described as being at the centre of his community.

Monmouthshire councillors paid their respects to 91-year-old Raglan resident Donald Spencer at a meeting this week following his death on Wednesday.

Council leader, Cllr Peter Fox, described Mr Spencer as a "wonderful man."

"He was a sharp councillor who always had the right purposes in all he did and he will be missed," Cllr Fox said at the meeting last Thursday (16th May).

"He was as sharp as a knife right up until very recent weeks, even writing to me on a policy issue."

Mr Spencer, a father of three, was elected onto Monmouth Borough Council in 1987, representing the St Arvans ward near Chepstow until 2004 and serving as council chairman from 2001-2002.

Originally from Llanover, Mr Spencer was a dairy farmer for most of his life as he started farming with his family when he was 16 years old.

He joined the Young Farmers Club in Abergavenny in 1943 and it became a big part of his life.

Councillor Val Smith described Mr Spencer as "kind and supportive."

"He was a very kind man, devoted to his family, who served the council well and truly and honestly," she added.

Mr Spencer was also a governor at Monmouth School for Boys, which he attended from 1938 to 1943, and Chepstow Comprehensive School.

As well as farming, religion has been a big part of Mr Spencer’s life and he served as treasurer of the Church of St Cadoc in Raglan.

Assembly Member for Monmouth Nick Ramsay also paid tribute to former Mr Spencer.

“The whole village is heartbroken at the passing of Don Spencer," he said.

“Don was a first class councillor and a lovely man.

“He was a constant source of advice and enthusiasm. He also became a good friend over the years I knew him in Raglan.

“I will miss him greatly. Our thoughts are with his family at this time.”

Mr Spencer’s funeral will take place at St Cadoc’s Church in Raglan at 11am on Monday 3rd June.