A TRURO city councillor has been celebrated for a half-century of service to her community.

Colleagues paid tribute to Cllr Armorel Carlyon, who was first elected to Truro City Council in May 1976, following her election as a Cornwall councillor in 1973. She has also served two 12-month terms as city mayor, in 1988 and 2004.

At the Full Council meeting on Monday, May 18, Cllr Carlyon was presented with a certificate of thanks and a rosebush named “Proper Job” sourced from the Cornish Rose Company.

Cllr Devon Claxton said: "Armorel is someone who never fails to stand up for what she believes in. Despite having served on the council for 50 years, she is highly supportive of new councillors, not to mention incredibly funny and witty."

Cllr Bert Biscoe added: “Mrs Carlyon is a Cornish woman of deep principle, generosity and kindness, with a profound sense of service, especially to her town and her community. She has been at the heart of things for so long that one might be forgiven for thinking that she is the heart of 'Trurra!”

Cllr Carlyon, 88, told Truro Voice she has no plans to hang up her councillor’s hat. “Fifty years, and I aggravate them as much now as I did back then,” she laughed.

“I’ve always sat as an independent and I serve the people as best I can – I go in fearlessly and say what I think needs to be said, although that isn’t so easy with the restrictions on free speech these days.”

Cllr Carlyon credited her strong Christian faith as her motivation. “I praise the Lord I have the same enthusiasm and concerns today as I did when I walked through that door 50 years ago. It’s wonderful to think I can still get fired up about going to a meeting next week about the swing bridge.”