Tributes have been paid to a former Llandrindod Wells Mayor, who has died after half century in town.

Derek Vincent Law was born on February 5 1937 in Camborne, Cornwall  to William and Mavis Law.

Derek’s father William worked as a copper miner after  leaving  school at 15, going  on to work for  ICI and , then as a school caretaker. Mum Mavis kept house, and ruled the  roost!

Educated at the local Roskear Primary  School, Derek was a  bright,  academic young man who enjoyed all school had  to offer, and  loved fishing  off the rocks of Godrevy lighthouse with his  Dad, and  school friends who lived nearby, one  of  whom was to become the  internationally  renowned tenor Benjamin Luxon!

Derek applied to the private and nationally known Truro School, and won a  full scholarship - the first boy in his  street  ever to attend  private school.

After A levels at Truro, he went onto Bristol University to do a  History degree .

Derek was in the last cohort required to do National Service, which took place in Bury St Edmunds, where  he  taught  brand new 18 year-old army recruits the three R’s.

After this he applied to do a PGCE in London to become a Secondary History teacher. 

It was in London he met Pam, another teacher, and they were married in August 1962. After both teaching in large London comprehensives, they moved to Luton, Bedfordshire in 1964, where daughter Sarah was born.

In 1967 they moved to Wiltshire where son Richard was born. Derek taught history at George Ward Secondary School, Melksham. He also joined the Town Council, becoming Mayor of Calne in 1971  at the  age of 34.

The family moved to Somerset  in 1972 with Derek’s  job change, becoming leader of a Teacher’s Professional Development Centre.

A  move  to Llandrindod followed  in early 1976, when he  took up the  post  of  local government  education advisor for  schools  across Powys, later  Senior  Advisor. He did this for 16yrs.

The family have lived in Llandrindod for 49 years and both Derek and Pam were active members of the local community.

Derek joined Llandrindod Town Council and served for 12 years. He was Mayor of Llandrindod, twice, in 2003/4 and  2007/8 and he retired from the council in 2012.

The town council held a minute’s silence in memory of Derek at their January meeting.

Town clerk Jane Johnston said: “As Town Clerk, I had the pleasure of working with Derek from 2007 when he was Chair of the Council and Mayor of Llandrindod Wells until his retirement in 2012.

“Derek was a strong and effective Chair and was a pleasure to work with, particularly due to his professionalism, empathy and kindness.

“Since 2012 I have kept in regular contact with Derek, who often would pop into the office to say hello and to discuss matters of concern to him as a resident. He loved Llandrindod Wells. He kept his wide smile and sense of humour throughout. He will be sadly missed in Llandrindod Wells.”

Llandrindod Wells Mayor Councillor Marcia Morgan added: “Although I joined the Town Council after Derek had retired, I would regularly bump into him in town and at the Holy Trinity Church. 

“Derek always chatted about the Town Council and the role of Mayor, happily sharing his memories and was always very supportive of me in the role. He was a very well respected figure in Llandrindod Wells and was associated with many local groups and the Holy Trinity Church, Derek will be very sadly missed.

“As Chair, I had the pleasure of spending the day with local residents when filming their memories of World War II and D-Day. Derek volunteered to take part and formed an important part of this historical record. We had a great day and have a lasting memory via video for future generations.”

Councillor Sian Meredudd served on the council with Derek. 

She said; “Derek was a very quiet, gentlemanly person but very firm in his views.

“He looked forward to closer relationship with Powys County Council and tried to

encourage this. It was a great loss to the Council when he decided to retire.”

Current Councillor Steve Sims became a neighbour to Derek. 

He added: “I met Derek when he introduced himself as a neighbour shortly after we moved to Llandrindod.  We then met again as members of two local community groups, in which he was an active participant. I was invited to enjoy a cigar in the garden room and I was pleased to act as his driver to various meetings if the weather was not good, otherwise he used his chariot. A good friend, a great conversationalist. “

Derek was also an enthusiastic and committed member  of  a host of  local organisations across his  nearly  50 years in Llandrindod including the Round Table, Rotary Club, Rhayader Male Voice  Choir, the Llandrindod Lodge, local Lib Dems, and as chair of Radnor Association of the  Blind and Probus.

The family were committed members of Holy Trinity’s Church community across five decades.

A thanksgiving service for Derek’s life will be held at Holy Trinity on February 13 at 2.30pm following a  private  cremation in Hereford.