The life of David Pugh, a former Mayor of Newtown and celebrated local historian, has been marked in the National Assembly by Montgomeryshire Assembly Member, Russell George.
Mr George paid tribute to him in the National Assembly for Wales in front of other AM’s yesterday (Wednesday 25thJanuary).
David Pugh, who sadly passed away last week, after a short illness, was Mayor of Newtown between 1994 and 1996 and he was Newtown’s leading local historian for many decades, instrumental in establishing the Newtown History Group in 1995 and its journal ‘The Newtonian’, both of which continue to flourish today.
He also helped establish the Newtown History Group, receiving the Queen's Award for Voluntary Service in 2013, and he was also a prominent member of the Newtown and District Civic Society.
David was also a director of the Montgomeryshire Community Regeneration Association and a committee member of the historical Powysland Club. He was a trustee of Newtown Silver Band and held office with the Robert Owen Museum.
Speaking in the Senedd, Mr George said:
“Best known for being seen with his camera, recording buildings for historic records, we now have a 64 volume quarterly journal called ‘The Newtonian’ which has recorded the life and times of Newtown and its townspeople.
“Before David’s work, there was very little recorded and it is thanks to David’s sustained commitment and determination that we now have an authoritative record of the town’s history for future generations.
“David’s legacy is that there is a recorded history of Newtown which otherwise would be lost. His contribution to civic society in Newtown has been outstanding and he will be missed by me and everyone in the Newtown and Llanllwchaiarn community.”
ENDS
Notes to Editors
Please find below a link to a You Tube clip of Mr George in the Senedd chamber, delivering his 90 second tribute to David Pugh