Tributes have been paid to former Torfaen County Borough Councillor Stuart Cameron, who died on Friday 17 July 2026.
Wilfred Stuart Cameron – known as Stuart – was born in 1947 in Cocker Avenue and brought up in Cwmbran, from a family of butchers. He was educated at Llantarnam School and the Cardiff School of Art and Design where he trained to be a photographer.
He was then employed as an industrial photographer at British Nylon spinners, until becoming the Secretary to the Mayor of Torfaen, in which capacity he served from the mid-1970s until his retirement in the late 1990s.
Stuart devoted his life to public service. He was a Community Councillor for the Two Locks, Ward on Cwmbran Community Council from the 1970s, serving as Chair, then went on to serve as the Torfaen County Borough Councillor for the Two Locks and Henllys Ward from 1999 to 2008, when he became the Chief Whip of the ruling Labour Group.
Veterans
Stuart was a passionate campaigner for local veterans and supported the Cwmbran and District Ex-Servicemen’s Association (CADESA) and the Royal Welsh Regimental Association (Pontypool Branch).
As Secretary of the John Williams (Fielding) VC Memorial Trust, established in 2002, he was instrumental in maintaining the local memorial and organising the annual Act of Remembrance held in memory of Private 1395 John Williams (Fielding) VC.
A first-class administrator, Stuart organised the local commemoration event for the 90th Anniversary of the Battle of the Somme.
Historian
As a local historian, Stuart leaves a remarkable legacy. On the 100th anniversary of Britain’s declaration of war in August 1914, Stuart – painstakingly – put together a list of the 1,260 men and women connected to Torfaen who died during the four years of the Great War.
Stuart also brought his considerable experience and expertise to the National Association of Councillors, and, internationally, he was a founder member, and Chair, on three occasions, of the Friends of Bruchsal Society. Stuart worked so that Bruchsal, in the state of Baden-Württemberg, Germany, was twinned with Cwmbran, and then made an extraordinary contribution to making the civic links a reality between people.
Stuart was a devoted husband to his wife Pam, and adored his family: his sister Sue; children Louise, Katherine, Rachel, and Allen; and his grandchildren Tom, Menna, Iolo, Emyr, Libby, Zack and Oscar.
Lord Murphy of Torfaen said: “Stuart and I were very close friends for well over fifty years, and I am devastated by his passing. He was a wonderful man who possessed very fine qualities: caring, highly intelligent, generous, compassionate, and a great administrator.
“He served the people of our valley for all his life, as a senior council officer and as a Community and County Borough Councillor.
“A true socialist, he was a man of great principle, but to me he was a dear friend whose death has closed down part of me and has left me desolate. The people of Torfaen, and of Two Locks and Henllys, owe him a great debt for his dedicated service and commitment.
“He also bequeathed to our valley an immense record of the servicemen and women who died in the two world wars. May he rest in peace and may his family be comforted.”
Rt Hon Nick Thomas-Symonds, MP for Torfaen, said: “I will never forget Stuart’s outstanding personal support for me, both in being selected as the Labour Parliamentary Candidate for Torfaen, and, subsequently, as the Member of Parliament. He was a loyal friend and political mentor, from whom I learned a great deal.
“I will treasure my many memories of him, including a trip with him and Lord Murphy to Ypres and the Somme on the 100th anniversary of the end of the First World War, in 2018. Stuart had – carefully – researched the location of the graves of courageous Torfaen soldiers who had made the ultimate sacrifice meaning we could lay flowers on each one.
“Stuart dedicated his life to the service of others: as an elected representative and through giving his time to support so many local organisations and causes. His legacy is in the countless lives he touched through his kindness, his willingness to help and his determination to make a positive difference.
“My thoughts are with Stuart’s wife Pam and all the family: they have lost someone they loved; our community has lost a true servant of the people.”
Lynne Neagle MS said: “I’ve known Stuart for nearly thirty years. He was always motivated by public service, and was an outstanding representative of the people of Two Locks and Henllys. I’ll always remember his support for our armed forces veterans: supporting Cwmbran and District Ex-Servicemen’s Association (CADESA) and the Royal Welsh Regimental Association (Pontypool Branch), as well as his time as Secretary of the John Williams (Fielding) VC Memorial Trust.
“His hard work organising the local commemoration event for the 90th Anniversary of the Battle of the Somme in 2006 was appreciated across the Borough.
“He will be hugely missed. My thoughts are with Pam, all of his family and his great friend Paul.”
Councillor Anthony Hunt, Leader of Torfaen County Borough Council, said: “Stuart is fondly remembered in Torfaen, both as a respected former officer and as a former councillor for Two Locks. But more than that, he was a good friend and mentor to so many including me. I remember him sitting in on part of my interview when I first went to work for his good friend Paul Murphy.
“From that moment onwards, he was a source of tremendous support and wise advice, as a young councillor, becoming leader and right up until I was selected as a Senedd candidate last year. I will miss him hugely, and my thoughts and prayers are with Pam and his family.”