A YOUTH champion from Barry, who was awarded and MBE for his services to the community’s young, has died.

Graham David Gwilliam, died, aged 86, in the Hafod Care Home, in Llantrisant.

Mr Gwilliam did National Service in the Royal Air Force and met his wife Rosemary there who was serving in the WRAF as a dental nurse.

The couple had two sons - David and Kelvin.

He returned to Barry and worked in Cardiff and then Barry Docks as an electrician for the Docks Board

He began his involvement in youth work by helping David (Dai) Witshire run the Barry Island Young People's Association (YPA) which was later re-constituted as the Young People's Organisation (YPO).

The YPA then YPO provided Youth services for young people, including sports, discos, pantomimes, outbound trips, amongst other social events.

Mr Gwilliam was, for many years, the YPO’s representative on the Barry Island Community Association (which manages the Barry Island Community Centre) and was actively involved in all its fundraising and community activities including the popular Barry Island fete.

He was involved in the successful campaign to reopen the Clive Road steps.

He was also a Labour party member and he attended St. John’s Methodist Church.