Long-serving Llansamlet councillor set to become Swansea’s next Lord Mayor

The Llansamlet ward member, who has served on Swansea Council since 2007, will take over the prestigious role from the current Lord Mayor of Swansea, Cllr Cheryl Philpott, in May.

Her appointment was confirmed at a full council meeting in January.

Cllr Matthews will be joined by fellow long-serving councillor Susan Jones, who is set to become the new Deputy Lord Mayor.

Born and brought up in the city, Cllr Matthews attended Manselton Primary School and later the Swansea Secondary Technical School for Girls after passing her 11-plus exam.

Her first step into the world of work was a Saturday job on the makeup counter at the old Woolworths in Oxford Street.

She later worked for the Steel Co of Wales at Velindre before going on to manage the office at D.C. Francis Coal Merchants for four years.

Her career continued at the Goods Vehicle Centre on the Strand in Swansea, where she served as a booking clerk and a union rep.

She then moved to the Jobcentre in Morriston, where she was also a Union Representative and covered front-line interventions for people signing on for benefits.

In addition to her council work, Cllr Matthews has been a governor at Trallwn Primary School since 1995, supporting the school by sitting on committees and attending events.

Cllr Matthews said:

“I’ve had a great year so far as Deputy Lord Mayor and I’m really looking forward to my year in office in May.

“I’m really looking forward to getting out and about and meeting the people of our fantastic city, as well as representing Swansea to visitors and as an ambassador for the city as a whole, at a very exciting time for our communities.”

The new Deputy Lord Mayor, Cllr Susan Jones, is an Independent councillor who has represented the Gowerton ward on Swansea Council since 2008.

She has also been a councillor on Gowerton Community Council since 1986.

Like Cllr Matthews, she has a long history of involvement in local education, serving as a governor of both Gowerton Comprehensive School and Gowerton Primary School.

Between 2001 and 2008, Cllr Jones also served as a Director for the Swansea Council for Voluntary Service (SCVS).

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