Tributes paid to ‘passionate’ Anglesey councillor who died following long-running cancer battle

Tributes have been paid to a well-known Anglesey councillor who died over the weekend following a long-running cancer battle.

Cllr Shaun Redmond, who represented the Caergybi ward, was a member of Anglesey Council and had been battling bowel cancer.

Having lived in Holyhead for over 40 years and an electrician by trade, he was described by colleagues as an “accepted Holyheader” amid high profile campaigns to protect portions of the town from development.

He later led calls for double yellow lines outside some of the town’s schools after the axe fell on school crossing patrols, and better health provision locally.

Cllr Redmond, who previously served on Holyhead Town Council, came to prominence amid a high profile campaign against Stena-Conygar’s plans for a new marina, specifically the handover of the Newry Green lease to facilitate the development.

A well-known figure within Holyhead Town Council, he later elected to Anglesey Council in 2017 as an independent councillor for the multi-member Caergybi ward, swiftly joining the Annibynwyr Môn opposition group.

“He was a highly intelligent and capable politician who always did his homework beforehand,” said group leader, Cllr Bryan Owen.

“I knew of him due to his campaigning, but didn’t know Shaun well before he became a county councillor and joined our group, but he became a highly respected local member and a valuable member of our team.

“He always put his constituents first and never went into a meeting unprepared, and carried on attending meetings even when his health was failing.

“Shaun had been battling cancer beforehand and thought he’d overcome the battle, but sadly it returned.

“Despite this, he took it on the chin and carried on doing what he could until the end.

“I know he will be missed not only by his family and friends but by the people of Holyhead whom he respected so much.”

His colleague, Cllr Peter Rogers, described him as “the most able councillor he had ever worked with,” adding that he always spoke in the chamber with “great gusto and always prepared.”

Fellow Caergybi ward councillor, Cllr Bob Llewellyn Jones, added: “He was very good to me, an honest man who looked after his community first and foremost.

“The people of the town held him in high esteem, he worked hard to try and save the Newry greens and was passionate for the causes he believed in.

“Although Shaun didn’t grow up here, his wife, Angela, did and he considered himself an accepted Holyheader and was treated as such by everyone else.”

The leader of Anglesey Council, Cllr Llinos Medi, described him as a “man of strong principles” and of having the “best interests of his community at heart.”

She added, “It is with great sadness that I, and fellow councillors, today learnt about Cllr Shaun Redmond’s passing after a lengthy period of illness.”

“I would like to extend my deepest sympathy to his family, friends and fellow councillors.”

A spokesman for Anglesey Council confirmed that following the passing of the Coronavirus Act 2020, Welsh Government are now looking at the subordinate legislation which will be required to postpone by-elections.

As a result, its unlikely that a by-election will be held until next year, meaning that fellow Caergybi ward members, Cllrs Robert Llewelyn Jones and Glyn Haynes, will continue to deal with constituency matters for the time being.

By Gareth Williams – Local Democracy Reporter