TRIBUTES have been paid to former Vale of Glamorgan councillor, AJ Williams following his death on Sunday, June 18,

His wife Faith was also found dead.

South Wales Police confirmed they were investigating the deaths of an elderly man and woman, at an address in Cowbridge.

The deaths were reported shortly after 9.30pm. The deaths are not being treated as suspicious.

Mr Williams represented the Vale council’s Peterston Super Ely ward until his retirement from local government and the council in 2007.

Before local authority re-organisation in 1974, he served as a councillor and chairman on the former Cardiff Rural District Council.

He held planning committee chairman post and was the cabinet member with responsibility for planning matters.

He represented the authority on the board of the Cardiff Bay Development Corporation and he was recognised in the New Year’s Honours List in 2004 when he was made an MBE for services to local government and conservation in the Vale.

Dr Ruth Williams, Mr and Mrs Williams' daughter said: “Dad had many happy memories and anecdotes of his 48 years of continuous service to the community and had a detailed knowledge of every part of the Vale of Glamorgan.

"Their home was frequently the 'nerve centre' of campaigns such as 'Stop the Super Quarry' in the 1970s.

"Mum supported dad in every way, not least when she was deputy mayoress and then mayoress during the opening of the Civic Offices in 1981. She organised and catered for functions in the mayor's parlour herself, and dignitaries from other organisations were keen to be invited once they tasted her food.

"Mum instigated the annual mayor's charity ball and the mayoress' charity coffee mornings. They were a terrific team and always proud ambassadors for the Vale of Glamorgan Council."

Vale council leader John Thomas said: “Tony devoted considerable time and commitment to the Vale of Glamorgan council and I had the honour and privilege of working alongside him since joining the council in 1999.

"Tony was the elder statesman providing valuable support and advice to myself as a new and inexperienced councillor. Both he and Faith will be sadly missed but fondly remembered.”

Rob Thomas, Vale council managing director and head of paid service, said he was “shocked”.

“I worked closely with Tony Williams since joining the council in 1996 and up to his retirement in 2007, and through Tony got to know his wife, Faith. Tony was always at the forefront of the work of the council in ensuring that the Vale of Glamorgan was protected from inappropriate development. He was also extremely supportive of the work of officers and on a personal level both supported me and gave me valuable advice during my early career with the council.”

Vale MP Alun Cairns said: “AJ was president of the Vale of Glamorgan Conservatives when I was selected as the parliamentary candidate. He was a huge help to me and we shared a passion on environmental matters.

"We worked together to better manage sand dredging off the coast to protect our beaches and recognised the risk of over development in Barry and across the rural Vale.

"His legacy is long lasting in that there are many more green spaces in Barry and across the Vale as a result of his actions. The community is rightly grateful for his work."

Vale and Barry Town councillor, Nic Hodges said: “Whilst never agreeing with him politically on anything he was a good servant to the council and worked hard for his ward. I enjoyed our twinning trip to Rheinfelden in 2006 and he and his wife were good company.”