Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Authority has appointed a new Chair and Deputy Chair to lead the organisation for the next two years.

Councillor John Davies of Pembrokeshire has been elected as Chair, with Councillor Matthew Crowley of Neath Port Talbot taking up the role of Deputy Chair. The appointments were made at the Authority’s Annual General Meeting on Monday, June 9.

Cllr Davies, who has served as Deputy Chair since 2023, succeeds Powys councillor Gwynfor Thomas, who remains a member of the Authority. A long-serving public figure, Cllr Davies has represented his ward on Pembrokeshire County Council since 1999 and led the council between 2004 and 2012.

He is also a former Chair of the Royal Welsh Agricultural Society Board and was made an Honorary Life Vice-President of the Society in 2022. He has previously served on the S4C Authority and held the office of High Sheriff of Dyfed.

Speaking on his election as Fire Authority Chair, Cllr John Davies said: “It is a huge privilege to be elected Chair at a time of significant changes and challenges within the Fire and Rescue Service sector in Wales.

“I will endeavour, along with my fellow Fire Authority colleagues, to engage with all stakeholders, from the staff who shape the Service, to the members of the public we represent and protect. It is an honour to be associated with a Service that continues to effectively serve its communities at their hour of need.”

Cllr Matthew Crowley, who has served on the Fire Authority since 2017, brings extensive experience in public service to his new role as Deputy Chair. His career began in 1982 with Afan Borough Council, and he most recently held the office of Mayor of Neath Port Talbot from 2024 to 2025.

Alongside his council work, Cllr Crowley is active in community life - serving as President of Aberavon Green Stars RFC, a member of the Aberavon Lifeguard Club, and a life member of the GMB union. He is also Chairman of Governors at both Awel Y Môr and Tywyn primary schools.

Commenting on his appointment as Fire Authority Deputy Chair, Cllr Crowley said: “It is a privilege and an honour two-fold to serve as Deputy Chair of the Fire Authority.

“As with all public services in Wales, we have challenging times ahead, but with the commitment of our elected Members and Officers, we are here to provide the best Fire and Rescue Service to the public.

“This appointment is also very poignant to me personally, as I follow in my late father's footsteps as he too was a Deputy Chair and then Chair of the Fire Authority from 2007 to 2009.”