A DISTINGUISHED former councillor and town clerk has passed away.

Robert Emlyn Jones, who was the clerk of Denbigh Town Council for many years and a county councillor for Lower Denbigh, has died at the age of 86.

Mr Jones had been suffering with poor health in recent years and he passed away last week.

He was a local authority administrator with the former Denbigh Borough and Glyndwr District Council, before retiring in 1990.

Mr Jones served as the clerk to the Denbigh Town Council for many years and represented the Lower Denbigh ward on Denbighshire County Council for one term.

He was a passionate member of St Dyfnog's Church, in Llanrhaeadr, and he served as the secretary of the parochial church council for several decades, working tirelessly to help ensure funds were available for ongoing restoration.

Mr Jones also sang in the choir in more recent times.

His name will forever by synonymous with the Llandyrnog and District Summer Football League.

Mr Jones representing his village Llanrhaeadr as a player for many years until the boundary was changed in 1965.

He was a fearless centre half and captain, leading the club to their only ever league and Shield double in 1955.

After retiring, he served in several capacities on the league's governing body and staunchly defended the status quo when officials of the Welsh FA attempted to outlaw the league in the 1980s.

His roles included referee, secretary, chairman and president of the league itself.

Mr Jones wrote an acclaimed history, including two books and an updated version of the league, which will reach its centenary in 2027.

Summer League committee member Tudor Jones said: "In the Vale of Clwyd, Robert Emlyn Jones' name was synonymous with that of our Summer Village Football League.

"He started as a young spectator of his home village team Llanrhaeadr, then spent a period playing for them.

"(He) did the odd stint of linesman / referee as required, joining the league executive committee as a member, then treasurer, league secretary and then finally ending up as the league president."

Tudor Jones said the work carried out by Mr Jones is the reason the league is still going strong.

"Due to his administrative skills taught from the experience of years of work with our local county council, he was the main instigator in the mid-1950s of re-organising the running of the league by reforming the make-up of the league’s management and executive committees.

"His work has been a major reason that our league is still going strong, whilst other similar summer leagues have fallen by the wayside.

"His interest in the league never wavered and even during these latter years when his health was failing, he was still seen watching and enjoying matches at his old club Llanrhaeadr."

He was the beloved husband of Glenys, father of Mike, Russell and Graham, grandfather to eight grandchildren and brother to Bronwen, Bryn and Morfydd.