ANGLESEY planners stood head bowed in silence to mark the death of a former councillor and well known broadcaster described as a ‘close friend to many’.
The island county council’s planning and orders committee marked the passing of Councillor Vaughan Hughes at its meeting held today, Wednesday, January 10.
The chairman Councillor Ken Taylor expressed sympathy to his family. The Anglesey-born councillor had been well known to many, and had been a former member of the committee.
“Over the weekend it was announced that the former councillor and member of the planning committee Councillor Vaughan Hughes has passed away,” he said.
“I am sure that we all sympathise with Heledd [Fychan} his daughter and the family. Vaughan was a very close friend to many of us, and I know that Cllr Nicola Roberts wishes to say a few words, then I am going to ask everybody to stand up as a mark of respect.”
The broadcaster and journalist died at the age of 76. He was a Plaid Cymru county councillor for a decade on the island until 2022.
Educated in Llangefni, at Ysgol Gyfun, he was the co-editor the Barn (opinion) magazine up until his death. He was well known as a news reporter on the former HTV’s nightly programme Y Dydd.
Cllr Nicola Roberts said: “We sympathise with Heledd and the family following Vaughan’s death. He was a very active member of this committee for over 10 years.
“He worked very hard and was very passionate he wanted to represent the electorate, we did have many arguments but at the end of the day we were friends, and I highly respected him.
“He wanted to keep Welsh names on properties, I learned a lot from him, a lot of new Welsh words. This is big loss, not just for the family but also for the council.”
Cllr Taylor then asked the committee stand for a minute in silence, before the meeting began.
Earlier this week, Ynys Mon MS Rhun ap Iorwerth had paid tribute to Vaughan Hughes. He said: “On behalf of Plaid Cymru I send our condolences to Vaughan Hughes’ family and loved ones following the sad news of his death earlier today,
“We think especially of his daughter Heledd Fychan as a friend and member of the Plaid group in the Senedd.”
