Wrexham MS Lesley Griffiths Honored at Care Home in Emotional Retirement Farewell
Tributes have poured in for retiring Senedd member Lesley Griffiths as she bowed out with an emotional final visit to a Wrexham care home. The city's long-serving MS was hailed as a wonderful standard bearer for Wrexham during a surprise tea party marking the end of her 19 years in Cardiff Bay.
Ms Griffiths, who is standing down ahead of the May 7 elections, was visibly moved as residents and staff at Pendine Park's Hillbury Care Home thanked her for nearly two decades of backing for the social care sector. The former Welsh Government Minister, who held several different Cabinet posts, took part in an art class before being presented with flowers and a handmade card in recognition of her support.
Praise from Care Sector Leaders
Mario Kreft MBE, who launched Pendine Park 40 years ago with his wife Gill, said Ms Griffiths had been a key supporter and champion of the care sector over many of those years. He told Ms Griffiths: You have been a huge friend of Pendine and the care industry throughout your career. You have been a wonderful standard bearer for Wrexham and for the social care sector.
You are a flag bearer for fairness, exactly the sort of person, in my opinion, who should go into politics. You went into politics wanting to make a difference, and you have made a difference. Mr Kreft added that Ms Griffiths embodies what the best politicians should be, working for the people and the community across various portfolios including agriculture, health, and local government.
Griffiths' Emotional Response
Lesley Griffiths was overwhelmed by the kindness shown by Mr Kreft, his wife Gill, and the staff at Hillbury in marking her retirement. She paid tribute to the work of everyone involved in the care sector, stating: I have been to lots of tea parties at a variety of Pendine's places over the years, but I have never had one in my honour before, so that is really lovely.
I am always made to feel very welcome and it's always a pleasure to come and see the care that you give to families. It can be a very difficult time for a lot of families, and the way you care for their most treasured possessions is amazing. She emphasized that there must always be a focus on the social care sector, a message she has championed throughout her 19-year Senedd career.
Support for Enrichment Programs
Ms Griffiths took part in an art session run by Pendine's creative arts consultant Jason Bennion, part of the care group's pioneering enrichment programme. The group's consultant artist in residence, Sarah Edwards, said Ms Griffiths was a passionate supporter of the enrichment scheme, noting her engagement with residents and attendance at special events.
Sarah added: We work in challenging environments at times and our main ethos at Pendine is to enrich the lives of our residents and Lesley contributes to that. A lot of people see coming into a home as the end of your life, but we view it as a new chapter in your life, and Lesley is very supportive of that.
Farewell from Care Home Staff
Hillbury home manager Cindy Clutton stated: Lesley has been a great support to not just Hillbury but the Pendine organisation as a whole. She is always welcome, she enjoys the art classes we have with the residents, she's been a couple of times, and she is more than welcome to join us for more.
As Ms Griffiths prepares for retirement, the care sector and Wrexham community express deep gratitude for her dedicated service and advocacy, marking the end of a significant chapter in Welsh politics.
