Tributes paid to former Lord Mayor of Swansea, Alan Lloyd

TRIBUTES have been paid to a former Lord Mayor of Swansea who moved among exalted company abroad while promoting his home city at all times.

Alan Lloyd, who has died aged 83, worked as a cable jointer for General Post Office and British Telecom but gained wider recognition in public life.

He was a Labour councillor from 1967 to 2012 and served as Mayor of Swansea and then, in the authority’s reconstituted form, Lord Mayor of Swansea.

Mr Lloyd was also UK delegation leader for the Congress of the Council of Europe, president of the International Union of Local Authorities, and founder president of the United Cities and Local Government.

His trips oversees saw him rub shoulders with the likes of Nelson Mandela, whom he described as “a giant of a man”, and United Nations secretary-general Kofi Annan.

Mr Lloyd represented Swansea’s Townhill and Castle wards during his time as an elected member and was appointed OBE six years ago for services to local government and democracy in Wales and abroad.

Asked what made a good councillor, he said: “Listening to people.”

Married to Lillian, the Sandfields couple had three children, including Clive, who is a Swansea councillor and cabinet member.

Clive said his father had a huge passion for promoting leisure, sport and culture and helped develop the former Morfa Stadium running track and playing fields, where one of the first all-weather pitches in south-west Wales was laid.

He described his father as a hard-working trade union man with strong socialist values.

“Despite his commitments we had a great upbringing and family life growing up,” said Clive, of St Thomas.

“His life was about public service in local communities and he never had any huge ambition to move away from local government.

“It wasn’t all work though. He was a proud member of Swansea Sportsman’s Club for many years – a life member and past chairman and president.”

Elected members in Swansea paid tribute to Mr Lloyd – and others connected to the authority who have died – at a full council meeting on October 24.

Mr Lloyd’s funeral takes place at Swansea Crematorium at 12.30 pm on November 1 followed by a wake at the Liberty Stadium.