THE outgoing Mayor of Blaenau Gwent, Cllr Bernard Willis, said his year in office has given him “so many highlights” – including getting to work alongside his daughter.

It was the second time Cllr Willis had been in office as mayor, after serving as Mayor of Tredegar Town Council in 2011.

The past year has been “absolutely fantastic” said the councillor, who serves Tredegar Central and West ward.

He served alongside his daughter Kym, 38, who was Mayoress again after her original stint in 2011.

He said: “My daughter said it’s a fantastic experience as well, especially for a young person. It’s an experience that you don’t normally ever get as a young person.”

Cllr Willis was unable to pick a sole highlight, but listed visits to care homes, factories, a small brewery and Tredegar firm Penn Pharmaceuticals as among those he remembers fondly.

Among the 220 visits he undertook during his 12 months as mayor, Cllr Willis said he spoke to industrialists about the issues they’ve faced and met the High Sheriff, the Bishop of Monmouth as well as the Lord Lieutenant of Gwent on several occasions.

He said: “We’ve been to schools and presented at events. It’s amazing, something like 220 visits in 12 months.

“It’s hard work though, but a really enjoyable experience and worthwhile.”

He raised a total of £14,005 for his mayoral charity, Velindre Cancer Centre. He did also originally fundraise for breast cancer charity In the Pink before the charity decided to close at the end of last year.

One piece of news Cllr Willis would have liked to see in during his time in office was the conclusion to the plans for the Circuit of Wales track.

He said: “The Circuit of Wales was not really with me as Mayor, it was more in the political arena.

“I’d love to see a conclusion coming to that but I believe we’re expecting a decision in the autumn.

“It would have been lovely had something happened in my year of office though so I could have taken part in the opening.”