GERAINT ‘The Snakeman’ Hopkins is well known in Llanelli for his charity work along with his partner Yolande. He and Yolande are not alone in their efforts as fund raisers as could be seen at the Mayor’s Parlour on Tuesday (Mar 14) as numerous fund raisers and community good eggs gathered in order for the Mayor Bill Thomas to officially thank them. During the evening Geraint and Yolande presented a considerable amount of money to West Wales Prostate Cancer Support.
Councillor Thomas is about to hang up his County Council and Town Council coat and ride off into the sunset over his beloved Burry Estuary. The evening was not about Bill or ‘Cockleshell Hero’ as he is known locally. It was about people like Jeff who stands in the town centre for six days a week collecting for the Salvation Army. Then there’s Colin, a security guard who patrols the St Elli Centre and has been known to tackle potential criminals and n’er do wells in the line of his duty. There’s ken and Phil from West Wales Prostate Cancer Support Group. The room really was a who’s who of those who give of their time freely to the community.
Councillor Thomas has been prolific in sub letting the parlour during his year in office. I have lost count of the number of events and the number of people who have at one time or another taken the lift to the first floor of the old vicarage and had Amanda Jones read them the fire drill in the style of a BA Air Hostess. The staff at the Town Council HQ are a friendly and talented bunch and can always be relied on to turn their hand to just about anything from cleaner to barmaid, technology guru to sandwich maker. Llanelli is a very special place and it is always the people that make it that way. County Councillor Bill Thomas may not have been everyone’s cup of tea as a councillor but he has given almost everyone a cup of tea in his role as town Mayor. He will be a hard act to follow.
