The Mayor of Tenby was able to meet up with one of the town’s ‘true ambassadors’ on a festive trip to New York this month.

Clr. Mrs. Sue Lane presented actor Charles Dale, who is appearing in an award-winning play on Broadway, with a ‘Mayoral Recognition of Achievement’ in the Big Apple.

Charles is part of the cast of ‘The Ferryman’ which is directed by Oscar winner Sam Mendes, best known for the film American Beauty and also directing the last two James Bond movies.

The production won widespread critical acclaim when it opened at the Royal Court theatre in London and became the fastest selling show in the theatre’s history.

Following unanimous, five-star critical acclaim and a year-long run in London’s West End, the play written by Jez Butterworth which won the 2018 Olivier Award for ‘Best New Play’ opened at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre on Broadway in October.

‘From the Little Theatre to the lights of Broadway, you have always carried Tenby in your heart and been a true ambassador for the town’ - states the certificate from Tenby Town Council.

Clr. Mrs. Lane met up with Charles at a special end of year celebration hosted by the ‘New York Welsh Group’ who celebrate Welsh success stories in the city while inspiring the creation of new ones.

The group organise events ranging from one-off cultural evenings to monthly meetups, all with the goal of promoting and uniting Welsh interests in New York.

She was invited to the event by Ty Francis MBE, a former Saundersfoot resident and pupil at Greenhill School, Tenby, who co-founded the organisation with Marc Walby (pictured above). Ty lived in New York for over 11 years, with his wife Alayna and his two children, Seren and Henry.

In 2014, Mr. Francis was appointed as a special business advocate to the United States for The Right Honorable Carwyn Jones AM, First Minister of Wales, in the USA, to further Welsh culture, business and promote it as a premium place to invest.

A former executive at the New York Stock Exchange, he now provides strategic advice to several companies looking to expand globally. He most recently joined His Royal Highness The Duke of York’s Pitch @ Palace initiative as an Advisor, and was appointed as an Ambassador Wales for the International Convention Centre at the Celtic Manor.

Another to meet up with the Mayor at the event was a sporting coach described as ‘the most influential man in Welsh football’, Osian Roberts - the current assistant manager to Ryan Giggs.

Whilst holidaying in New York with members of her family, Clr. Mrs. Lane said she met a lot of people from all over Wales in the city, including a girl from Carmarthen that she was friends with back in the sixties.For her annual 'New Year' message, Clr. Mrs. Lane has expressed her sincere appreciation of the efforts of her fellow Councillors in Tenby, along with local organisations and various individuals for their support in 2018, which she hopes that will continue into 2019.“The turn of a New Year is always a time for reflection on what has gone before but it also gives us a chance to renew and refresh, to look forward with optimism and hope,” she said.“As Tenby has often proved, there are a great many people and organisations willing to work together for the benefit of our community and I feel it will also be vitally important for the town council to liaise with these organisations, and the people of Tenby in general, to look at how that that support can continue and evolve in the future.“I would like to see the immense work undertaken by organisations in the town highlighted far more to hopefully encourage more people to join them or support them.“I would like to think of 2019 as the year we all work together as we strive to do our best for residents and visitors alike.“It is vital we do so to ensure that Tenby maintains the visual impact and high standards we all expect and are proud of. It is what helps make Tenby such a popular place to live in and to visit.“The year ahead will not be easy. There are a number of decisions in front of us that will be controversial but we must discuss and communicate our differences so that we can move forward for the good of our town and its community. “My hope for the New Year is that we maintain this sense of community so we can achieve the very best for the town I have always said we are lucky to live in.“It’s certainly going to be an exciting and challenging year and, as we move forward into 2019, may I conclude in wishing everyone a very happy, healthy and prosperous New Year,” added Clr. Mrs. Lane.