A CELEBRATION of the life of Labour stalwart and peace activist Ray Davies will be held in July in recognition of his work.

It will be held in the Temple of Peace in Cardiff on Saturday, July 4, with films, speakers and displays on the night.

Hundreds of people attended a remembrance service at Bedwas Workman’s Hall to celebrate the life of the veteran Bedwas, Trethomas and Machen councillor and Labour stalwart last Friday.

He has been described by many as a "one-off".

Mr Davies had battled pancreatic cancer and died on May 7 at the age of 85.

Those attending Mr Davies’ funeral, a humanist ceremony led by Lorraine Barrett, were encouraged to wear colourful clothes.

In a nod to his love of music, Caerphilly Male Voice choir, Cardiff Arms Park choir, and Côr Cochion, which Mr Davies helped form, performed at the ceremony.

On the day, tributes flowed in from as far afield as Gaza and the United States. Assembly Member for Caerphilly Jeff Cuthbert, MP for Caerphilly Wayne David, and Newport West MP Paul Flynn were among those in attendance.

A number of songs, including A Miner’s Life, were sung during the service in recognition of his time spent underground and support for the miners during the 1984-85 strike.

A prominent member of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament and the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, Mr Davies was arrested on anti-nuclear protests and was even shot in the head in Palestine while escorting ambulances carrying injured Palestinians in Balata.

He said one of his proudest moments was when the campaign to build the new hospital at Ystrad Fawr came to fruition.

Mr Davies requested that his body be donated to Cardiff School of Medicine. He leaves behind his wife Wendy Lewis and six children as well as grand-children and great-grandchildren.

Further details of the event in July are yet to be confirmed.