Craig Williams MP has congratulated Llangedwyn champion and stalwart Maureen Wilde on her retirement, after over 40 years of running the Antur Tanat Cain Charity and Llangedwyn Mill & Craft Centre.
Craig recently joined Maureen alongside her family, friends, neighbours and colleagues at a surprise celebration following her final meeting in charge, to pay tribute to a true community hero.
Following her retirement, Maureen Wilde commented:
“When I first walked onto the Mill site in 1979, I never thought I would still be there over 40 years later!
“It was lovely to meet up with friends, present and former tenants of the Mill including Dick Richards & Paddy Moindrot who were the original stalwarts of so many local projects. There are also so many good people who are no longer with us, such as David Rowlands who was Chairman Director and my mentor for 30 years, and Cllr Bob Edwards likewise who first had the vision for Antur Tanat Cain - as well as too many others to mention individually but all remembered.
“I would like to thank my husband Keith who has worked hard over the years whenever called upon to make the Mill and the various projects we have taken on a success. I also want to wish the new management team all the very best for the future.”
Congratulating Maureen on her retirement, Craig Williams MP said:
“Maureen truly is the definition of a ‘local champion’. Since she first became involved with the Mill in 1979, it has been completely renovated from a derelict site to a thriving hub; providing jobs and new skills for young people and creating units for small businesses to grow and develop. Under her leadership, the Mill was the location for Wales’ first ‘Telecentre’, providing training in computing and internet use during its infancy.
“For over 30 years, Maureen and her husband Keith have worked tirelessly getting up in the early hours every other Sunday morning, to set up and run the charity car boot sales held at the Mill. This has raised thousands of pounds for local charities, and they have also recently overseen the establishment of Jubilee Luncheon Clubs for the elderly.
“On top of this, Maureen played a crucial role in establishing and obtaining funding for local recreation associations within Llangedwyn and the surrounding areas, and was a founder member alongside others of the Tanat Chronicle and the Tanat Theatre Club. In her ‘spare time’, Maureen also a remains a Llangedwyn Community Councillor, and was a Governor of Llangedwyn CIW Primary School for many years.
“I was very pleased to be able join Maureen and her family and friends at this very special celebration. It truly is the end of an era for Llangedwyn, and I wish both Maureen and her husband Keith a very happy retirement.”
