Tom Theophilus, 1931-2016

Colli Tom Theophilus, 1931-2016

Syfrdanwyd a thristawyd trigolion cylch eang gyda cholli’r Cynghorydd Tom Theophilus mor ddirybudd ar 5 Gorffennaf ac yntau’n 84 mlwydd oed.

Yn enedigol o ardal Rhandir-mwyn bu Tom yn ffermio ym Mallaen, Cil-y-cwm ac yn gweithio i’r Comisiwn Coedwigaeth. Gyda degawd o brofiad fel cynghorydd plwyf etholwyd e’n gynghorydd ar Gyngor Bwrdeistref Dinefwr yn 1976 ac yno y bu tan ddiwedd y Cyngor Bwrdeistref yn 1996. Anrhydeddwyd ef fel Maer y Fwrdeistref yn 1988-89, swydd a gyflawnodd ef a’i briod Anne yn gydwybodol a gyda diwidrwydd a hynawsedd.

Yn 1991 etholwyd Tom fel Cynghorydd Sir Dyfed gan gynrychioli Ward Llanymddyfri a phum mlynedd yn ddiweddarach yn aelod o Gyngor Sir Caerfyrddin fel cynghorydd Ward Cil-y-cwm. Gwasanaethodd ar nifer fawr o awdurdodau a phwyllgorau a bu’n gadeirydd ar rai megis Pwyllgor Trwyddedu’r Cyngor Sir. Mae colled Cyngor Sir Caerfyrddin yn fawr. Roedd oedran a phrofiadau Tom wedi rhoi iddo’r gallu a’r profiad i gynnig arweiniad doeth, a mesur go lew o synnwyr cyffredin i’r trafodaethau a’r penderfyniadau. Roedd yr aeddfedrwydd yna yn cael mynegiant nid mewn awydd i fod yn uchel ei gloch, ond yn ei barodrwydd i ystyried yn ddwys ac yn dawel cyn mynegi barn ar unrhyw bwnc. Pan fyddai’n siarad roedd y llais tawel pwyllog yna’n ennyn gwrandawiad parchus, a’i farn yn mynnu ystyriaeth ar draws y siambr. Roedd Tom yn Gymro cadarn, ac yn lladmerydd brwdfrydig bob amser dros fuddiannau cefn gwlad Sir Gâr. Roedd e ymhlith yr addfwynaf o ddynion, yn naturiol gwrtais a chanddo stôr o wybodaeth am werthoedd a thraddodiadau’r wlad. Roedd yn gwmni difyr a diddorol ac yn wrandawr. Roedd yr addfwynder yna yn cwato personoliaeth a chymeriad penderfynol a chadarn – parod i amddiffyn ei frodorion ac i ddadlau eu hachos. Coffa da am Tom, y gŵr mwyn a doeth ei eiriau o Gil-y-cwm.

Yn dilyn gwasanaeth angladdol breifat yn Amlosgfa Llanelli ar 18 Gorffennaf, daeth tyrfa enfawr i’r gwasanaeth coffa yn Eglwys Sant Mihangel, Cil-y-cwm ar y diwrnod canlynol.

Cydymdeimlir yn ddwys gyda’i weddw Anne, William a Geoffrey y meibion, gweddill y teulu a’i gyfeillion niferus yn eu colled.

Mansel Charles, senior editor Y Lloffwr.

Losing Tom Theophilus, 1931-2016

Many people from a wide area of the community were surprised and saddened by the sudden loss of Councillor Tom Theophilus on July 5th, at the age of 84 years.

Born near Rhandirmwyn, Tom farmed in Mallaen, Cil-y-Cwm and worked for the Forestry Commission. With a decade of experience as a parish councillor, he was elected councillor for Dinefwr Borough Council in 1976 and he remained there until the end of the Borough Council in 1996. He was honoured to serve as Borough Mayor in 1988-89, a post he fulfilled conscientiously, diligently and genially, alongside his wife Anne.

In 1991 Tom was elected as County Councillor for Dyfed, representing Llandovery ward, then five years later as a member of Carmarthenshire County Council, becoming councillor for Cil-y-cwm ward. He served on numerous authorities and committees and chaired some, such as the County Council’s Licensing Committee. The County Council has lost a great asset in Tom. His age and experience gave him the ability to offer wise leadership with a fair measure of common sense, enriching discussions and decisions. His mature approach  was evident not in a loudness of voice but in his willingness to consider matters seriously and quietly before expressing an opinion on any subject. When he spoke, his calm and measured voice was heard with respect, his views eliciting attention and consideration across the chamber. Tom was a steadfast Welshman and always an enthusiastic advocate for the interests of rural Carmarthenshire. He was among the mildest of men, naturally polite and with a wealth of information about the values and traditions of the country. He was a most interesting and entertaining companion and a good listener. His gentleness complemented a determined and firm personality – he was always ready to protect his constituents and to argue their case. He leaves behind him the best of memories; of Tom, a gentle man, and of the wisdom of his words from Cil-y-cwm.

After a private funeral service at Llanelli Crematorium on July 18th, a huge crowd gathered on the following day for a memorial service at St. Michael’s Church, Cil-y-cwm.

The greatest of sympathies are with his widow, Anne, his sons William and Geoffrey and his many other family members and friends in their loss.

Mansel Charles, senior editor Y Lloffwr.