Shock at mayor’s sudden death

THE mayor of Neath Port Talbot has died suddenly after becoming ill at a public event.

Councillor Janice Dudley was guest of honour at the Round the Pier Swim at Aberavon Beach on Saturday.

She was in attendance to officially start the race.

But according to event organiser Bernard Donovan she was unable to carry out her role.

Mr Donovan said: “The mayor was taken ill, she suffers from asthma and had a very bad asthma attack and had to be taken into A&E but the race went ahead.”

He later added: “It has come as a shock to us all. She was down the quayside with our club president to start the pier swim and then she strolled along the promenade to watch the race.

“I had never met her before, but she seemed a lovely person and was happy to pose for photographs with the swimmers.

“Naturally our thoughts are with her family and friends.”

Plaid Cymru AM Bethan Jenkins said: “Janice Dudley was a stalwart of Plaid Cymru locally in Neath. As the Plaid AM for the area I have spent hour upon many pleasant hour campaigning with Janice.

“She was hard-working, dedicated, and always had time to help people in need.

“She would pop in to see people she knew who didn’t get many visitors in her ward, created new parks and initiatives in her community, and inspired a new generation of young Plaid members.”

Mrs Dudley had represented the people of Bryncoch South in Neath since being elected in 2004.