1961 Carmarthenshire County Council election

Last updated August 26, 2025

An election to the Carmarthenshire County Council was held in April 1961.^[1] It was preceded by the 1958 election and followed, by the 1964 election.

Overview of the result
Boundary changes
Retiring aldermen
Unopposed returns
Contested elections
Results
Ward results
Abergwili
Ammanford No.1
Ammanford No.2
Berwick
Burry Port East
Burry Port West
Caio
Carmarthen Division 1
Carmarthen Division 2
Carmarthen Division 3
Cenarth
Cilycwm
Conwil
Cwmamman
Felinfoel
Hengoed
Kidwelly
Laugharne
Llanarthney
Llanboidy
Llandebie North
Llandebie South
Llandilo Rural
Llandilo Urban
Llandovery
Llandyssilio
Llanedy
Llanegwad
Llanelly Division 1
Llanelly Division 2
Llanelly Division 3
Llanelly Division 4
Llanelly Division 5
Llanelly Division 6
Llanelly Division 7
Llanelly Division 8
Llanelly Division 9
Llanfihangel Aberbythych
Llanfihangel-ar-Arth
Llangadog
Llangeler
Llangendeirne
Llangennech
Llangunnor
Llanon
Llansawel
Llanstephan
Llanybyther
Myddfai
Pembrey
Pontyberem
Quarter Bach
Rhydcymerau
St Clears
St Ishmaels
Trelech
Trimsaran
Westfa
Whitland
Election of aldermen
References

Overview of the result

A close run election resulted in Labour increasing its majority by two after capturing an additional two seats. In addition, Labour took the majority of the aldermanic vacancies.^[2]

Boundary changes

There were no boundary changes at this election.

Retiring aldermen

A number of retiring councilors stood down to allow retiring aldermen to be returned unopposed. These included D.T. Williams at Llangadog, who stood down in favour of Gwynfor Evans.^[3]

Unopposed returns

39 members were returned unopposed, including six of the nine members in Llanelli town.

Contested elections

20 contests took place.

Results

59 councillors were elected.

Ward results

Abergwili

Abergwili 1961
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Independent	William John Phillips*	unopposed
	Independent hold		Swing

Ammanford No.1

Ammanford No.1 1961
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labour	Haydn Lewis*	unopposed
	Labour hold		Swing

Ammanford No.2

Ammanford No.2 1961
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labour	Thomas E. Evans*	unopposed
	Labour hold		Swing

Berwick

Berwick 1961
	Candidate	Votes
Labour	William Isaac Daniel*
Plaid Cymru	David Hubert Evans
Labour hold		Swing

Burry Port East

Burry Port East 1961
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labour	Edward Lewis*	unopposed
	Labour hold		Swing

Burry Port West

Burry Port West 1961
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labour	Labor Dennis*	unopposed
	Labour hold		Swing

Caio

Caio 1961
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Independent		unopposed
	Independent hold		Swing

Carmarthen Division 1

Carmarthen Division 1 1961
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labour	George V. Davies*	Unopposed
	Labour hold		Swing

Carmarthen Division 2

Carmarthen Division 2 1961
	Candidate	Votes
Independent	David Mansel Thomas*	656
Labour	David Owen	626
Independent hold		Swing

Carmarthen Division 3

Carmarthen Division 3 1961
	Candidate	Votes
Independent	D. Denzil Harries	748
Ratepayers Association	Graham Jones*	562
Independent gain from Ratepayers		Swing

Cenarth

Cenarth 1961
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Independent	D.G. James Jones*	unopposed
	Independent hold		Swing

Cilycwm

Cilycwm 1961
	Candidate	Votes
Independent	James James	331
Independent	Thomas L. Jones	300
Independent hold		Swing

Conwil

Conwil 1961
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Independent	W.A. Phillips**	unopposed
	Independent hold		Swing

Cwmamman

Cwmamman 1961
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labour	Rev. Oswald Rees Davies*	unopposed
	Labour hold		Swing

Felinfoel

Felinfoel 1961
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labour	Arthur Cledwyn Francis*	unopposed
	Labour hold		Swing

Hengoed

Hengoed 1961
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labour	Edgar S. Samuel*	unopposed
	Labour hold		Swing

Kidwelly

Kidwelly 1961
	Candidate	Votes
Labour	G.O. Williams*	880
Plaid Cymru	W. Morris	507
Labour hold		Swing

Laugharne

Laugharne 1961
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Independent	Tudor H. Fleming Williams*	unopposed
	Independent hold		Swing

Llanarthney

Llanarthney 1961
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labour	D.M. Davies*	unopposed
	Labour hold		Swing

Llanboidy

Llanboidy 1961
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Independent	William Joshua Phillips*	unopposed
	Independent hold		Swing

Llandebie North

Llandebie North 1961
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labour	William Morris*	unopposed
	Labour hold		Swing

Llandebie South

Llandebie South 1961
	Candidate	Votes
Labour	Idris Evans*	1,242
Independent	J.R. Griffiths	372
Labour hold		Swing

Llandilo Rural

Llandilo Rural 1961
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Independent	David Marlais Humphreys*	unopposed
	Independent hold		Swing

Llandilo Urban

Llandilo Urban 1961
	Candidate	Votes
Independent	D'Arcy Lewis Duckfield*	499
Labour	W.D. Watkins	488
Independent hold		Swing

Llandovery

Llandovery 1961
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Independent	William J. Davies*	unopposed
	Independent hold		Swing

Llandyssilio

Llandyssilio 1961
	Candidate	Votes
Independent	Daniel Clodwyn Thomas	448
Independent	H.H. Harries*
Labour	Ifor Walter Morgan	85
Independent hold		Swing

Llanedy

Llanedy 1961
	Candidate	Votes
Labour	W. John Evans*	1,635
Independent	Rev D. Cynddylan Jones	673
Labour hold		Swing

Llanegwad

Llanegwad 1961
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Independent	M.I. Griffiths*	unopposed
	Independent hold		Swing

Llanelly Division 1

Llanelly Division 1 1961
	Candidate	Votes
Labour	Dr H.D. Llewellyn*	1,471
Independent	W. John Thomas	993
Labour hold		Swing

Llanelly Division 2

Llanelly Division 2 1961
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labour	Brinley Owen*	unopposed
	Labour hold		Swing

Llanelly Division 3

Llanelly Division 3 1961
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labour	Mrs Claudia R. Rees*	unopposed
	Labour hold		Swing

Llanelly Division 4

Llanelly Division 4 1961
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labour	Mrs Loti Rees Hughes*	unopposed
	Labour hold		Swing

Llanelly Division 5

Llanelly Division 5 1961
	Candidate	Votes
Labour	Sidney Lewis*
Independent	Gwilym Gibby	288
Labour hold		Swing

Llanelly Division 6

Llanelly Division 6 1961
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labour	William Douglas Hughes**	unopposed
	Labour hold		Swing

Llanelly Division 7

Llanelly Division 7 1961
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labour	D.J. Williams*	unopposed
	Labour hold		Swing

Llanelly Division 8

Llanelly Division 8 1961
	Candidate	Votes
Labour	George M. McConkey*	667
Independent	Fred Howells	498
Labour hold		Swing

Llanelly Division 9

Llanelly Division 9 1961
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labour	Sidney Ivor Thomas*	unopposed
	Labour hold		Swing

Llanfihangel Aberbythych

Llanfihangel Aberbythych 1961
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Independent	David Ivor James Evans*	unopposed
	Independent hold		Swing

Llanfihangel-ar-Arth

Llanfihangel-ar-Arth 1961
	Candidate	Votes
Independent	William Harry	586
Independent	Ivor Thomas Davies*	487
Independent hold		Swing

Llangadog

Llangadog 1961
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Plaid Cymru	Gwynfor Richard Evans**	Unopposed	*N/A*	*N/A*
	Plaid Cymru gain from Independent

Llangeler

Llangeler 1961
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Independent	John Evans	unopposed
	Independent hold		Swing

Llangendeirne

Llangendeirne 1961
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labour	Rev R.G. James*	unopposed
	Labour hold		Swing

Llangennech

Llangennech 1961
	Candidate	Votes
Labour	John William Boyles*	1,117
Plaid Cymru	Mrs C.E. Beasley	526
Labour hold		Swing

Llangunnor

Llangunnor 1961
	Candidate	Votes
Independent	John Dobson Phelps*	909
Ratepayers	John S. Thomas	214
Independent hold		Swing

Llanon

Labour had lost this ward in a by-election.

Llanon 1961
	Candidate	Votes
Labour	David William Jenkins	1,379
Independent	Clifford Jenkins*	1,228
Labour gain from Independent		Swing

Llansawel

Llansawel 1961
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Independent	John Morgan*	unopposed
	Independent hold		Swing

Llanstephan

Llanstephan 1961
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Independent	J.H. Davies*	unopposed
	Independent hold		Swing

Llanybyther

Llanybyther 1961
	Candidate	Votes
Independent	Benjamin Edward Davies*	792
Independent Labour	Thomas Davies	580
Independent hold		Swing

Myddfai

Myddfai 1961
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Independent	Morgan Lewis Jones*	unopposed
	Independent hold		Swing

Pembrey

Pembrey 1961
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labour	Simon John Elwyn Samuel*	unopposed
	Labour hold		Swing

Pontyberem

Pontyberem 1961
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labour	David John Jones*	unopposed
	Labour hold		Swing

Quarter Bach

Quarter Bach 1961
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labour	Josiah Jones*	unopposed
	Labour hold		Swing

Rhydcymerau

Rhydcymerau 1961
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Independent	David Arthur Evans*	unopposed
	Independent hold		Swing

St Clears

St Clears 1961
	Candidate	Votes
Independent	Rev W.J. Rees*	769
Independent	Tudor N. Evans	707
Independent hold		Swing

St Ishmaels

St Ishmaels 1961
	Candidate	Votes
Labour	C.J. Burgess	648
Independent	Major J.R.P. Thomas	639
Independent hold		Swing

Trelech

Trelech 1961
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Independent	S.O. Thomas**	unopposed
	Independent hold		Swing

Trimsaran

Trimsaran 1961
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labour	Samuel T. Hughes*	unopposed
	Labour hold		Swing

Westfa

Westfa 1961
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labour	Emrys Aubrey**	unopposed
	Labour hold		Swing

Whitland

Whitland 1961
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Independent		unopposed
	Independent hold		Swing

Election of aldermen

In addition to the 59 councillors the council consisted of 19 county aldermen. Aldermen were elected by the council, and served a six-year term. Following the elections, the majority of the aldermanic seats were taken by Labour.

References

↑ "County Council Elections". Carmarthen Journal. 14 April 1961.
↑ "Election of Aldermen". Carmarthen Journal. 28 April 1961.
↑ "Nominations". Carmarthen Journal. 24 March 1961.

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.

[CJ_14-4-61_CarmsRes-1] "County Council Elections". Carmarthen Journal. 14 April 1961.

[CJ_28-4-61_CarmsAldermen-2] "Election of Aldermen". Carmarthen Journal. 28 April 1961.

[CJ_24-3-61_Carms_noms-3] "Nominations". Carmarthen Journal. 24 March 1961.

[1]

[2]

[3]

v t e Council elections in Carmarthenshire
Carmarthenshire County Council	1889 1892 1895 1898 1901 1904 1907 1910 1913 1919 1922 1925 1928 1931 1934 1937 1946 1949 1952 1955 1958 1961 1964 1967 1970 1995 1999 2004 2008 2012 2017 2022
Carmarthen District Council	1973 1976 1979 1983 1987 1991 Abolished
Dinefwr Borough Council	1973 1976 1979 1983 1987 1991 Abolished
Llanelli Borough Council	1973 1976 1979 1983 1987 1991 Abolished
Ammanford Urban District	1903 1910 1911 1912 1913 1914
Burry Port Urban District	1903 1906 1907 1909
Carmarthen Rural District Council	1894 1898 1901 1904 1907 1910 1913 1919 1922 1925 1928 1931 1934 1935 Abolished
Llandeilo Rural District Council	1894 1898 1901 1904 1907 1910 1913 1919 1922 1925 1928 1931 1934 1935 Abolished

v t e (1960 ←) 1961 United Kingdom local elections (→ 1962)
County councils (England)	Bedfordshire Berkshire Buckinghamshire Cambridgeshire Cheshire Cornwall Cumberland Derbyshire Devon Dorset Durham East Riding East Suffolk East Sussex Essex Gloucestershire Hampshire Herefordshire Hertfordshire Holland Huntingdonshire Isle of Ely Isle of Wight Kent Kesteven Lancashire Leicestershire Lindsey London Middlesex Norfolk North Riding Northamptonshire Northumberland Nottinghamshire Oxfordshire Rutland Shropshire Soke of Peterborough Somerset Staffordshire Surrey Warwickshire West Riding West Suffolk West Sussex Westmorland Wiltshire Worcestershire
County councils (Wales)	Anglesey Brecknockshire Carnarvonshire Cardiganshire Carmarthenshire Denbighshire Flintshire Glamorganshire Merionethshire Monmouthshire Montgomeryshire Pembrokeshire Radnorshire
County councils (Scotland)	Aberdeenshire Angus Argyllshire Ayrshire Banffshire Berwickshire Buteshire Caithness Clackmannanshire Dumfriesshire Dunbartonshire East Lothian Fife Inverness-shire Kincardineshire Kinross-shire Kirkcudbrightshire Lanarkshire Midlothian Moray Nairnshire Peeblesshire Perthshire Orkney Renfrewshire Ross and Cromarty Roxburghshire Selkirkshire Stirlingshire Sutherland West Lothian Wigtownshire Zetland
City corporations	Aberdeen Dundee Edinburgh Glasgow
Northern Ireland	Londonderry