TRIBUTES have been paid to former Mayor of Mold and a "true gentleman" Raymond Dodd. 

Mr Dodd, of Clayton Road, Mold, passed away suddenly but peacefully on August 12, at the age of 78. 

Father to Jan and Kim, and grandfather to Jacob, Raymond was born in Birkenhead in 1945, before moving to various locations across the UK including London, Leicester and Chester, before finally settling in Mold. 

The former youth worker spent almost 40 years as a councillor on Mold Town Council between 1978 and 2017, with two terms as Mayor between 1994-2005 and in 2011. 

He also managed the Daniel Owen Centre in Mold and was a representative of the Liberal Democrats. 

Following his passing, his daughter Kim paid tribute to her dad. She said: "He was a very loving father and grandfather. 

"He was also very centred on being a public servant through various roles as a Liberal Democrat on Mold Town Council, Mayor and leader of the Daniel Owen Centre.

"Consequently he was very well known. As a child I remember we'd be out canvassing on the streets handing out things with him. 

"He had a passion for life, loved to travel and loved to be involved in community life, that's what he lived for."

Ray's friends and former colleagues also paid tribute to him. 

Mold Town councillor Robin Guest said: "I was very sorry to hear of Ray’s passing. He was a valued colleague and friend for many years. Ray was already an experienced Liberal councillor on Delyn Borough Council when I came to Mold. We served together on Mold Town Council, and later on Flintshire County Council, where he represented the Broncoed ward of Mold.

"He was a natural campaigner, and was forceful in arguing on behalf of his residents. He had a particular passion for improving the lot of council tenants, and was not afraid to ruffle feathers in fighting their corner. He was the epitome of a good ward councillor, knowing his patch and taking up issues without fear or favour.

"He was a great servant of Flintshire Liberal Democrats and although his health prevented him from political activity in recent years, he will be much missed."

Brian Lloyd, Mayor of Mold, said: “When I first came into the town council in 2008, Ray was a long-standing councillor and previous mayor.

“I was looking for a friendly face with being so new and it being such a strange experience and Ray always stood out. He was always a friendly face and would help me out.

“He was always very welcoming and would give me advice. He also put me right a few times as well.

“Ray was a gentleman, he really was.”

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Former Mayor of Mold, Haydn Thomas said: “I knew Ray very well from our time as youth leaders, he had finished on Mold Town Council by the time I’d joined.

“As Ray held the post of manager at the Daniel Owen Centre in Mold, he was the youth leader there and I was in a similar role in Halkyn, so we ended up doing a fair bit together.

“He was a true gentleman, he really was.

“Ray was very dedicated and I found him very efficient. A quiet worker, he did his job efficiently and quietly.

“He was also a good listener and gave a lot of time to Mold over the years in various capacities.”

Raymond's funeral service will take place at St Mary's Parish Church, Mold on Friday, August 30 at 11am, followed by burial at Mold Cemetery.