An 87-year-old man from Llanbadarn who joined the Aberystwyth Parkinson’s group in 2001, when his wife was diagnosed with the disease, is retiring from his position as chairman.

Hefin Jones first joined the Parkinson’s Aberystwyth group in 2001, when his late wife, Beryl Jones, was diagnosed with the illness.

In 2007, Hefin took over from the former chairman and co-founder of the group in 1982, Margaret Gibbons.

“It’s funny actually, Beryl had Parkinson’s but she didn’t really want to join the group at all,” Hefin said.

“But the secretary of the group was very friendly with my sister in law and she was trying to persuade us to join all the time. Then, finally, Mary invited us for a coffee morning, as well as the secretary of the group. We had a long chat about the group and decided to join.”

Beryl sadly died in August 2016, but Hefin has continued to serve as chairman until now.

Hefin is due to move to Cardiff in the coming weeks, to be closer to his daughter, but said he has already been in contact with the treasurer of the city’s Parkinson’s group to discuss the possibility of getting involved.

“You know, the big thing about being in the Parkinson’s group is you talk to people, which is very important. You find out how other people are coping. It’s a nice community, we used to have a meeting once a month and we used to have a coffee morning every year to raise money at the Waunfawr Community Hall.

“I am excited to move. I have accepted it now. I shall miss Aberystwyth and I have been active here since 1968 with different things.

“I am moving to Cardiff and I’ve already been in touch with a man in Cardiff who is involved with the Parkinson’s group there.”

On 9 June, members of the Parkinson’s Aberystwyth group met in a member’s garden to say goodbye to long time member Hefin.

Hefin was presented with a “lovely” photo of the group in Devil’s Bridge, while Dawn McGuinness, area development manager for North and Mid Wales with Parkinson’s UK Cymru, presented him with a long service award.

“I thought we were just to have coffee and then all these things happened. It was a very nice surprise,” Hefin added.

Llanilar native Hefin moved back to the area from Coventry, with Beryl, in 1967, when they bought Siop Castell newsagents, on Great Darkgate Street, which they owned until 2001.

Dawn said: “Hefin has worked tirelessly as a volunteer for Parkinson’s UK for an incredibly long time and it was a pleasure to present him with this certificate of our appreciation for all that he has done.

“Hefin’s commitment to fundraising and organising activities for people in the Parkinson’s community has been unstinting and he’ll be sorely missed. We’d like to say a huge thank you to Hefin and wish him all the very best for the future in his new home - the Cardiff Parkinson’s UK Cymru Branch look forward to welcoming you!”