On Friday, May 8, Clr. Mrs. Margaret Owen was installed as Mayor of St. Clears.

The ceremony took place at St. Clears Boating Club in the presence of town councillors and their guests. At the same occasion, Mrs. Elsa Davies LVO, became Mayoress of St. Clears.

Clr. Mrs. Owen has been a member of St. Clears Town Council since 1999. Like her late husband, Clr. Arwyn Owen, she is an active and popular member of the community in St. Clears.

As part of her contribution to the local community, she is chairman of the governors of Bancyfelin Primary School, a past member of Carmarthenshire County Council's standards committee, a founder member and until recently, the honorary secretary of St. Clears Twinning Association and a former Divisional Commissioner of Guiding in the Vale of Taf. She is still active in Guiding as a member of Carmarthenshire Trefoil Guild and Friends of Guiding in St. Clears.

In addition, she is a church warden of St. Mary's Church, St. Clears and also contributes to the local community magazine, the Sanclêr Times.

"Becoming Mayor of St. Clears is a rare privilege," said Clr. Mrs. Owen.

"St. Clears is a town which is developing year on year and I am looking forward to supporting all the groups and businesses which do so much to put St. Clears on the map.

"In these difficult economic times, it is important to emphasise that Bancyfelin and Pwll Trap are as one with St. Clears and I will be underlining the importance of working as one for the benefit of all."

During her term of office, the new Mayor will be taking every opportunity to visit the many voluntary and other organisations in the St. Clears area.

Clr. Mrs. Owen has lived in St. Clears since 1977. A teacher by profession, she has four daughters, Helen and Jane who live in Carmarthenshire and Alison and Catrin who live in Berkshire and north London. Her Mayoress, Elsa Davies, lives in Bancyfelin.