A FORMER mayor has been re-elected to St Asaph City Council after a break of more than three years.

Bill Cowie resigned from the city council in 2014, having served for 10 years.

In May 2017, the former ‘village bobby’ also opted not to stand for re-election to Denbighshire County Council, having served for nine years.

Mr Cowie has now made a return to the city council “to fill a gap’”in his life.

The 80-year-old, a widower for 11 years, was married to Maureen. He has two children, Nigel and Tina.

He said: “I did not put myself forward for the elections last May, but since then I’ve been asked by a number of serving councillors and members of the public to go back on the city council. There were two vacancies, so I applied and was accepted on January 10.

“I feel I can – having served for 10 years on the local council and nine years on the county – use my past experience and knowledge to the benefit of the residents.

“I have always been a person who is prepared to give up my spare time to help others.

“Although I am in my 80th year, my health is very good overall. I am still enthusiastic enough to be an asset to the council.”

Mr Cowie, a member of the St Asaph Community Association and the Afon Elwy Regeneration Group, left school at 15 to work in the coal mine.

At 18, in 1956, he joined the Royal Artillery and spent three years in Kinmel Camp, Bodelwyddan, as a bombardier drill instructor.

“In 1967, I joined the then Flintshire police force serving as a village bobby in Pensarn, and then Bodelwyddan,” he added.

“I served in criminal investigation department (CID) in crime prevention, then retired in 1989 as an inspector.”

Mr Cowie ran a horse transporter business for 15 years.

He was co-opted on to the then St Asaph Town Council for the West ward in 2004 and served as mayor 2007-2008.

In May 2008, he was elected on to the county council for the west ward and was re-elected for a further term of five years in 2012.