I SENT this letter to Stan Stennett's son Ceri and family for all the good work Stan did in Penarth and the Vale and whose life he enriched.

To Ceri and family

I met Stan, your dad in 1957 when my grandmother lived in Heol Madoc Whitchurch, and our paths crossed when we both were awarded an MBE.

When I was Mayor and Cabinet member for Social Services and Health on the Vale of Glamorgan Council, your dad entertained at Ysgol Erw'r Delyn where I was a governor, and also at four old peoples homes. He was also a regular over the years at our elderly persons day centres, and gave free tickets to challenged children at his various shows at the Paget Rooms Penarth.

Stan always made my wife and I laugh when he visited our home, and our paths crossed again last year when we had treatment at Landough Hospital.

We both worked and had meetings with the Vale Council, over seven years ago, to open the Marina Penarth for the local community to share. Stan would have been pleased to see the Penarth Pier project completed because this is where he met your mum.

He was true gentleman and had a rare ability to mix at all levels and an inner warmth which endeared him to children and people of all ages.

Whenever I asked Stan for his support he never refused, and was one celebrity who never took one penny piece not even to cover his petrol costs.

I will be one of thousands of people who will miss him and the last time we spoke he was concerned about Norman Wisdom, which was typical of him caring for others.

My one regret was that Stan was not knighted as a few of us believe he should have been.

Thank you Stan for a lifetime of devotion to your fellow man.

Warmest regards and love your friends Clive and Gwyneth.

Cllr A Clive Williams MBE

Plymouth Ward Councillor

Penarth