Caerphilly Plaid Cymru councillor Colin Mann was honoured for his service at the party’s annual conference in Swansea.
Colin Mann, who represents Llanbradach ward, was presented with a special contribution award by Delyth Jewell, MS, Deputy Leader of Plaid Cymru.
Councillor Colin Mann, a former deputy leader of the Plaid Cymru group on Caerphilly County Borough Council, first joined the party at the time of the 1968 Caerphilly Westminster By-Election.
He said: “I was first elected to the former Mid Glamorgan County Council in 1977 and to Caerphilly County Borough Council in 1994, when it was established. I’ve also been a member of Llanbradach and Pwllypant Community Council since it was established around 1985.”
Councillor Colin Mann added: “I’ve been continuously re-elected to all of the above since being voted in the first time thanks to the wonderful support of the people of Llanbradach. A total of 13 times, I believe.
In a response at conference he said: “I was not looking for an award and certainly not expecting one.”
He went on: “ I mentioned that I was elected at the same time as a certain Lindsay Whittle (fellow Plaid councillor).”
“There have been numerous Plaid achievements over time. We had a huge campaign to get the Llanbradach by-pass built with numerous meetings, petitions to the Welsh Office and all sorts of lobbying. We actually had a meeting attended by 600 people in the former church when there was a threat to suspend planning on the road.
“We also had a 22-year campaign for our new GP surgery before it opened during Covid in July 2021.
“One of the latest high-profile issues that I’m involved with is the campaign to restore the area of Bluebell Wood which had been excavated. We are now in the process of getting the land back for the community.
“Support is vitally important to anyone doing this type of work and I paid tribute at conference to my wife Diane for the huge support that she has given me over the years,” added Councillor Colin Mann.