Hundreds say farewell to popular councillor

4:24pm Friday 16th May 2008

Comments (0)   Have your say »

AROUND 300 people packed a Risca church to pay their last respects to a long-serving and popular councillor.

Keith Griffiths, 75, died on May 4 at the Royal Gwent Hospital after being diagnosed with prostate cancer in September last year.

The Risca West councillor served his community for more than 40 years.

Yesterday family, friends and colleagues, including many present and former councillors, attended a service of thanksgiving at Moriah Baptist Church, where Mr Griffiths had worshipped since 1957.

Islwyn MP Don Touhig, who knew Mr Griffiths for 40 years, said he was a man of "values, vision and hope", who "achieved more in his lifetime than many of us hope to do in ours."

He said Mr Griffiths was determined to win the last election despite knowing he didn't have long to live.

Mr Touhig painted a picture of Mr Griffiths as a staunch Christian and Labour supporter, and said it was not possible to separate "Keith the man from Keith the Christian or Keith the socialist."

He described Mr Griffiths as "a man of vision, who put into words what others can only dream of," and as someone who had the courage to stand as a lone voice.

Mr Touhig concluded: "A bright star has gone out in the political sky. Politics will be much duller and much more boring without him."

The reverend John Hayward, who was Mr Griffiths' chaplain during his time as chairman of the former Gwent county council, said of his friend: "He could be very generous and many of us have benefited from his kindness and generosity."

Mr Griffiths was elected to Monmouthshire county council from 1963-1974, Gwent county council from 1974 to 1996, and to Caerphilly council from 1996 until he died.

After yesterday's service his body was buried at Dan-y-graig cemetery.

Mourners gave donations in lieu of flowers to Moriah Baptist Church Missionary Fund and Risca Miners Education fund.