ABERGAVENNY has lost two of its best known personalities this week with the deaths of historian Gywn Jones and former councillor Verona Nelmes.

A larger than life personality, former Govilon councillor Verona Nelmes was born into a mining family in Tredegar and worked as a midwife at Nevill Hall Hospital.

She was well-known for being a very active member of Monmouthshire County Council from its inception and served the people of Llanwenarth Ultra well for many years until she retired in May 2008.

Mrs Nelmes died on December 14 at the age of 77, following a short illness.

County Councillor Roger Harris, leader of the Labour Group at Monmouthshire County Council said, "Many of us who canvassed with her never ceased to be amazed at the number of people that she knew personally.

"This was probably due to her actually delivering them into this world in her role of community midwife.

"She has been the champion and chairman of governors at Deri View Primary School since its inception over seven years ago until her unexpected passing last week.

"Her care and commitment to the children of Deri View is without parallel as was the support she gave to both the recently retired and newly appointed head teachers.

"Verona was also very active in the Constituency Labour Party and, over the years, she has been the holder of most of the senior positions in the organisation.

"As a county councillor Verona was 'feared' for her no-nonsense, astute challenges, particularly during her time as an opposition councillor.

"She was respected by the controlling Conservative group even though she gave no quarter in political debate. Indeed, many of her political opponents counted her as their friend."

Mrs Nelmes was initially appointed as the chairman of Monmouthshire County Council when the Labour Party controlled the authority ten years ago.

She subsequently became the cabinet member for Social Services and was particularly active in ensuring that children and young people were championed.

Councillor Harris added, "Verona was a much valued colleague and friend to many and a great exponent of the values and ethos of the Labour Party.

"I have known Verona for well over 30 years, both politically and personally. She was a true and sincere friend and will be missed by us all."

The recently appointed headteacher at Deri View Primary also paid tribute to Verona.

Sarah Davies said,"The whole school community at Deri View Primary is upset by the sad news of Mrs Nelmes's passing last week.

"In the short time I have known Verona, I have been overwhelmed by her commitment and passion for the whole school community at Deri View.

"She has remained actively involved in the work and life of the school and is very well known to all the children, staff and parents, being a regular presence in the school.

"It is thanks to Verona's drive and determination that Deri View Primary School came into existence and it is our responsibility to ensure that her vision to provide a true 'community school' is realised."

Councillor Maureen Powell, Chairman of Monmouthshire County Council added, "Verona Nelmes will be remembered by many in this authority as a conscientious member.

"Her main focus was on social services and education.

"During the years that I have been on the Governors of Deri View Primary School, I found her to be helpful, hardworking and dedicated as chairman. She was devoted to the school and always put the children first. She will be missed by many in Abergavenny and further afield."

Verona was the wife of the late Graeme - who was also a well respected councillor - and mother of sons Adrian and Jamie.

Her funeral service will be held on Monday, December 24 at 10am at Llwydcoed Crematorium in Aberdare.

Donations in lieu of flowers will be given to Deri View Primary School.

Retired teacher Mr Gwyn Jones, President of Abergavenny Local History Society, has died at the age of 86.

Mr Jones, who was born in the Rhondda Valley, and served for more than two years in the RAF. He trained as a teacher at St Luke's, Exeter, and taught at a school in the Rhondda before moving to Abergavenny in 1957 as a PE and history teacher at King Henry VIII School.

He was married to Beryl for 65 years and the couple had one son, Alun, a head teacher, four grandchildren and three great grandchildren.

He wrote a number of books on Abergavenny, including the pre-historic, Roman, Norman and medieval periods, and also on the town's markets. His popular Abergavenny town walk pamphlet includes details of the society's blue plaques put up in the 1980s to highlight some of the town's most important or vanished landmarks.

He helped to found the Abergavenny Archaeology Group, taking part in a number of excavations at sites such as Flannel Street and, led by the late Mr Alan Probert, the Twyn-y-gaer hill fort.

Mr Jones was instrumental in producing a schools' pack with slides and notes on the town's history and another on Raglan Castle. He also wrote the book Visits to Gwent's Past for schoolchildren.

In 1977, Mr Jones was a founder member of Abergavenny Local History Society and was its chairman for 20 years.

The society's roots lie in the Friends of Abergavenny Museum committee which worked to open the castle museum back in 1959.

The group, of which he was a committee member, had managed to save from demolition the crumbling Regency hunting lodge on the site of the Norman keep and had raised funds to create the museum which in 1971 was handed over to the Abergavenny council.

Mr Jones and his pupils helped to build the Victorian Welsh farmhouse kitchen, still a popular attraction at the museum.

He led guided tours of the town including St Mary's Priory Church and was among the first to identify the need for the restoration of the monuments at the church, and was a leading member of the committee formed to restore them.

In 1985, Abergavenny was chosen as the Local History Society of the Year by the British Association for Local History. The same association honoured Mr Jones in 2004 with a national award for his own services to local history at a presentation held at the Imperial War Museum in London.

He received another award from Gwent Local History Council in 2002 after his retirement from the history society committee when he became the society's president.

His other interests were gardening, golf and he helped to establish the badminton club.

A memorial service, open to all, will be held at St Mary's Priory Church on Monday, January 7, at noon. A family-only ceremony will be at the Gwent Crematorium.