Former Swansea councillor passes away aged 94

A FORMER city councillor and champion of the elderly has passed away aged 94.

Gordon Carruthers was a councillor for Sketty ward from 1994 until 1999, but worked as a carpenter for most of his life.

In later life he carved a role supporting the elderly in Swansea, providing them with an articulate voice.

He was made an honorary life president of older people's information centre Topic House after years of service and also serving as chairman.

He fought ageism across Wales and the UK, even standing in a skip outside Cardiff's Assembly offices in Cardiff as part of a campaign to show older people were not on the scrapheap.

He also served as chairman of lobby group Wales Pensioners, and continued to play a role, despite being registered blind in later life, and undergoing double by-pass heart surgery at the age of 83.

Mr Carruthers was also a trustee of the Phoenix Centre in Townhill.

Its chief executive Mike Durke said: "Gordon was a long-standing stalwart of the Phoenix Centre, and was a trustee until a year or so ago.

"He was a great man, and did a lot for the communities in Townhill and Mayhill.

"He did a lot for the elderly, and we are very sad to see him go."

Penderry councillor June Burtonshaw also paid tribute.

She said: "I knew Gordon for a very long time, it seems like forever.

"He was very active for the Labour Party, and was a very nice man who is going to be terribly missed. He was very hard working, and did a lot of hard work for his community.

"He didn't drive, so he could often be seen travelling around the area by bus.

"My condolences go to his wife Angela and her family."

Townhill councillor Nick Bradley said: "Gordon was a fantastic man, and a very hard working councillor for Sketty.

"I had a huge amount of respect for him.

"He kind of took me under his wing when I first joined the party, and I learned a lot from him."

Almost ten years ago, the veteran campaigner was named in the Lord Mayor's Regeneration Awards as the individual who has made the most outstanding community contribution.

He was also active in the campaign to save Morriston Hospital's neurosurgery unit.

And when he turned 90, he asked for donations instead of presents, to be given to the cardiac centre at Morriston Hospital, following the help they had given him, raising more than £600.

He said at the time: "Without the cardiac unit, I wouldn't be here today."

Gordon was married to wife Angela, and the pair lived together for many years at their home in Berw Road, Mayhill, after meeting in 1955, and marrying two years later. They had a daughter Meryl.

For the past year he had been living at April Court care home.

Angela said: "We had a peaceful life together and did not quarrel. We live a happy life."

A service will be held at Our Lady of Lourdes in Townhill on March 20, followed by a service at Morriston Crematorium at 3pm.