One was a lifeguard who grew up in Somerset, the other a youth offending service volunteer from Birmingham, but they both now represent voters in Carmarthenshire following successful council election campaigns. Russell Sparks and Shelly Godfrey-Coles are among the new intake of councillors who will represent the county for the next five years.
Cllr Sparks' unlikely journey to Plaid Cymru membership and election began when he moved to Swansea with his girlfriend - now wife - Rhiannon, and coached swimming and studied history and Italian at Swansea University. After completing their studies the young Mr Sparks secured a swimming coaching role in Carmarthen, and the couple made the short trip west to live.
Carmarthen reminded them of their home town, Frome, in Somerset. "It was an accident, I suppose - a happy accident," said Cllr Sparks, 45. His first job had been as a lifeguard at Longleat Center Parcs, Wiltshire, followed by working stints in ski resorts, a foreign language school in London, and a campsite in Brittany. You can get more Carmarthenshire news and other story updates by subscribing to our newsletters here.
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After a time in Carmarthen he switched jobs and worked for swimming governing bodies, but then decided he wanted to focus once more on teaching and coaching the sport. That led to a new venture at the University of Wales Trinity Saint David's pool in the town. The business grew and moved during Covid to a new site at Parc Pensarn, where some 950 children a week now take part in Likeafish Swim School sessions in a 16m pool. Cllr Sparks said he had some 30 staff on the pay roll.
He stood as an Independent candidate for Carmarthen Town West in the 2017 council elections, and then joined Plaid. He said he was not your typical Plaid representative but had lived in Wales for many years and could coach swimming in Welsh. Cllr Sparks described the possibility of Welsh independence as "a natural progression" and that it would happen "when Wales is ready for it". You can read more stories about Carmarthen here
The father-of-two said he felt Plaid supported the community and had, through its coalition administration in Carmarthenshire, brought new developments and grant funding into the county. He represents Carmarthen Town West with Cllr Emlyn Schiavone, also Plaid.
"I feel people know who I am," he said. Cllr Sparks added that his priorities were the environment and pushing forward the council's 2030 "net zero" ambition, ensuring commercial footfall was maintained in Carmarthen, and campaigning against any downgrade of services at the town's Glangwili Hospital.
Plaid has 38 councillors, Labour 23, the Independents eight, and non-affiliated Independents six following the council elections on May 5. The 75 councillors represent 51 wards in the county.
Cllr Godfrey-Coles represents Burry Port along with fellow Labour councillor John James. She grew up on a housing estate in Birmingham and said her "heart was taken" by the South Wales coastline on a school geography field trip. She said: "I remember thinking to myself, 'I need to live here.' It was so beautiful."
Aged 18, she moved to Barry to volunteer for what was then South Glamorgan youth justice social services. She then moved to Cardiff, undertaking various roles for non-profit organisations and charities, and completing a social work degree.
She met "the love of my life", Jan, while working for children's charity Barnado's, and the couple moved to Burry Port in 2013 via stints in Peru, Gloucestershire and Tycroes, near Ammanford. "When we were in Tycroes we walked our dog every night in Burry Port," said Cllr Godfrey-Coles. "Everyone was so friendly there, it was so lovely."
The couple have seven-year-old twins and also provide supported lodging to an 18-year-old through the charity, Llamau. "She has been with us for 18 months, she's in university, and she's an absolute credit to herself," said Cllr Godfrey-Coles.
The 47-year-old said she had been encouraged to stand as a councillor, and threw her hat into the ring after finding out that her predecessor, Amanda Fox, was standing down at the election. Cllr Godrey-Coles, who does a few hours a month of independent social work, said she was passionate about people's voices being heard. She promised to be visible and accessible. She said priorities included pushing for progress with the development of Burry Port harbour, and urging flexibility on free school transport provision. "I do feel I'm as prepared as I can be, but it's going to be a learning process," she said.
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