Scores at funeral of former Caldicot mayor (From South Wales Argus)

Scores at funeral of former Caldicot mayor

12:10pm Tuesday 8th January 2013 in Gwent news

MORE than 120 people attended the funeral of former Caldicot mayor and borough councillor John Watts, who died on December 21.

His funeral was held at St Mary’s Church, Caldicot, on January 5 and was conducted by Rev Lyndon Harrison.

Representatives from all major political parties were present, including the leader of Monmouthshire Council, Peter Fox, and the mayor of Caldicot, Jim Higginson.

Mr Watts, of Manor Farmhouse, Portskewett, died, following an illness, at the Royal Gwent Hospital, surrounded by close family.

He was born in Caldicot, and served as a Royal Signalman from 1948 for four years in Italy, dealing in communications and information gathering for the British Army.

He went on to work on the railway before working at Llanwern steelworks, Newport.

The steel strike sparked his interest in local politics, and following this he became a housing officer for Newport council.

His love of local ecology and wildlife led him to stand as a Caldicot councillor, fighting for such causes as the protection of the Nedern Brook, and he went on to serve as the town’s mayor.

He was also a key figure in the twinning of Caldicot with Waghäusel, Germany.

He held office as a Labour councillor with Monmouthshire Council, before it became unitary in 1996.

He leaves his widow, Pauline, children Armand and Abigail, and grandson Oscar.