# 1955 Carmarthenshire County Council election

An election to the Carmarthenshire County Council was held in April 1955. It was preceded by the 1952 election and followed, by the 1958 election.

## Overview of the result

After six years under Labour control, the election produced a very close result with 29 Labour candidates, 28 Independents and 2 Plaid Cymru candidates being returned after the contested elections. With the support of the two Plaid Cymru members, the Independents then proceeded to take seven of the eight aldermanic vacancies and to offer the other to the President of Plaid Cymru, Gwynfor Evans with the result that the Independent group regained control of the authority.

## Boundary changes

There were no boundary changes at this election.

## Retiring aldermen

The aldermen who retired at the election were ...
A number of retiring councilors stood down to allow retiring aldermen to be returned unopposed. These included the members for Kidwelly, Llanelly Division 2, 6 and 7, Pontyberem and Westfa. Four of these members would not be returned to the new council as the aldermen were not re-elected. At Llansawel, Alderman David Thomas withdrew rather than face a contest.

## Unopposed returns

39 members were returned unopposed, an increase of five compared with 1955.

## Contested elections

20 seats were contested. Labour defeats at St Ishmaels and one of the Llanelli wards, to Independents, and at Ammanford, to Plaid Cymru, led to their losing their majority of elected councillors.
A number of retiring aldermen stood as candidates and were returned unopposed.

## Summary of results

This section summarises the detailed results which are noted in the following sections.
This table summarises the result of the elections in all wards. 59 councillors were elected.
Carmarthesnhire County Council 1955: elected members :
* Party
* Labour
* Plaid Cymru
* Independent
Carmarthenshire County Council 1955 : following election of new aldermen :
* Party
* Labour
* Plaid Cymru
* Independent
Carmarthenshire County Council 1955 : following election of new aldermen and by-elections :
* Party
* Labour
* Plaid Cymru
* Independent

## Ward results
### Abergwili

Abergwili 1955 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | William John Phillips | unopposed | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Ammanford No.1

Ammanford No.1 1955 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Labour | Haydn Lewis* | 724 |
| Ratepayers | David Howard Cooke | 597 |
| Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing |

### Ammanford No.2

Ammanford No.2 1955 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Plaid Cymru | David Samuel Gwynfor Evans | 715 |
| Labour | Thomas Elias Evans* | 684 |
| Plaid Cymru gain from Labour | Plaid Cymru gain from Labour | Swing |

### Berwick

Berwick 1955 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | William Isaac Daniel* | unopposed | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Burry Port East

Burry Port East 1955 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Edward Lewis* | unopposed | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Burry Port West

Burry Port West 1955 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Labor Dennis* | unopposed | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Caio

Caio 1955 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Thomas Davies* | unopposed | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Carmarthen Division 1

Carmarthen Division 1 1955 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | George V. Davies* | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Carmarthen Division 2

Carmarthen Division 2 1955 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | J.O. Morgans* | unopposed | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Carmarthen Division 3

Carmarthen Division 3 1955 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Independent | D. Denzil Harries | 962 |
| Labour | Ellis J. Powell | 531 |
| Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing |

### Cenarth

Cenarth 1955 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | D.G. James Jones* | unopposed | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Cilycwm

Cilycwm 1955 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | D.I. Lewis* | unopposed | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Conwil

Conwil 1955 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | W.A. Phillips* | unopposed | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Cwmamman

Cwmamman 1955 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | David Davies* | unopposed | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Felinfoel

Felinfoel 1955 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Arthur Cledwyn Francis* | unopposed | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Hengoed

Hengoed 1955 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Edgar S. Samuel* | unopposed | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Kidwelly

Kidwelly 1955 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | J. Amos Jones** | unopposed | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Laugharne

Laugharne 1955 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Independent | Tudor H. Fleming Williams | 768 |
| Independent | W.G. John* | 636 |
| Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing |

### Llanarthney

Llanarthney 1955 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | D.M. Davies* | unopposed | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Llanboidy

Llanboidy 1955 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | William Joshua Phillips* | unopposed | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Llandebie North

Llandebie North 1955 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | William Morris* | unopposed | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Llandebie South

Llandebie South 1955 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Samuel Roberts* | unopposed | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Llandilo Rural

Llandilo Rural 1955 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Independent | David Marlais Humphreys* | 866 |
| Independent | John Oswald Elfryn Thomas | 468 |
| Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing |

### Llandilo Urban

Llandilo Urban 1955 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | James Morgan Davies* | unopposed | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Llandovery

Llandovery 1955 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Independent | William J. Davies* | |
| Independent | James James | 247 |
| Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing |

### Llandyssilio

Llandyssilio 1955 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | H.H. Harries* | unopposed | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Llanedy

Llanedy 1955 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Gwyn Howells* | unopposed | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Llanegwad

Llanegwad 1955 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Griffith Evans* | unopposed | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Llanelly Division 1

Llanelly Division 1 1955 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Independent | John Zammit | 1,521 |
| Labour | Rev David Penry Jones* | 888 |
| Independent gain from Labour | Independent gain from Labour | Swing |

### Llanelly Division 2

Llanelly Division 2 1955 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | William T. Griffiths** | unopposed | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Llanelly Division 3

Llanelly Division 3 1955 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Mrs Claudia R. Rees* | unopposed | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Llanelly Division 4

Llanelly Division 4 1955 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Mrs Charlotte Hopkins* | unopposed | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Llanelly Division 5

Llanelly Division 5 1955 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Labour | Sidney Lewis* | 381 |
| | Independent | William Gilbert Edmunds | 328 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing |

### Llanelly Division 6

Llanelly Division 6 1955 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | William Douglas Hughes** | unopposed | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Llanelly Division 7

Llanelly Division 7 1955 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | J. Llewellyn Evans** | unopposed | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Llanelly Division 8

Llanelly Division 8 1955 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | George M. McConkey | unopposed | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Llanelly Division 9

Llanelly Division 9 1955 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Labour | Sidney Ivor Thomas* | 789 |
| Independent | Frederick Howells | 724 |
| Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing |

### Llanfihangel Aberbythick

Llanfihangel Aberbythych 1955 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Independent | Thomas John Williams* | 620 |
| Labour | David Ivor James Evans | 528 |
| Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing |

### Llanfihangel-ar-Arth

Llanfihangel-ar-Arth 1955 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Independent | Ivor Thomas Davies | 463 |
| Independent | William Harry | 229 |
| Independent | William Morgan Davies | 227 |
| Independent | Evan Philip Richards | 175 |
| Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing |

### Llangadog

Llangadog 1955 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Plaid Cymru | Gwynfor Richard Evans* | 585 |
| Independent | William Jones | 484 |
| Plaid Cymru hold | Plaid Cymru hold | Swing |

### Llangeler

Llangeler 1955 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | John Evans | unopposed | | |
| | Independent gain from Labour | Independent gain from Labour | Swing | | |

### Llangendeirne

Llangendeirne 1955 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Rev R.G. James* | unopposed | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Llangennech

Llangennech 1955 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Labour | John William Boyles* | 911 |
| Plaid Cymru | Trefor Beasley | 352 |
| Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing |

### Llangunnor

Llangunnor 1955 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Independent | John Dobson Phelps | 916 |
| Independent | Thomas Griffiths | 155 |
| Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing |

### Llanon

Llanon 1955 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Sidney Jones* | unopposed | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Llansawel

Llansawel 1955 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Independent | John Morgan | 312 |
| Independent | Daniel Williams* | 267 |
| Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing |

### Llanstephan

Llanstephan 1955 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | J.H. Davies* | unopposed | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Llanybyther

Llanybyther 1955 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Independent | John Evans | 829 |
| Independent | Benjamin Edward Davies* | 661 |
| Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing |

### Myddfai

Myddfai 1955 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Morgan Lewis Jones* | unopposed | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Pembrey

Pembrey 1955 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Simon John Elwyn Samuel* | unopposed | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Pontyberem

Pontyberem 1955 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Labour | David John Jones** | 1,895 |
| Plaid Cymru | David Eirwyn Morgan | 407 |
| Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing |

### Quarter Bach

Quarter Bach 1955 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Josiah Jones* | unopposed | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Rhydcymerau

Rhydcymerau 1955 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Independent | David Arthur Evans* | 362 |
| Independent | Vincent Roy James | 228 |
| Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing |

### St Clears

St Clears 1955 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | T.E. Williams* | unopposed | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### St Ishmaels

St Ishmaels 1955 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Independent | Morgan Thomas Evans | 763 |
| Labour | Trevor Rhys Morris* | 689 |
| Independent gain from Labour | Independent gain from Labour | Swing |

### Trelech

Trelech 1955 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Simon Owen Thomas* | unopposed | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Trimsaran

Trimsaran 1955 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Labour | Samuel T. Hughes* | 533 |
| Independent Labour | William Daniel Evans | 415 |
| Independent Labour | William Williams | 256 |
| Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing |

### Westfa

Westfa 1955 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Emrys Aubrey** | unopposed | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Whitland

Whitland 1955 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | William Hughes Mathias* | unopposed | | |
| | Independent hold | 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, seven of the ten aldermanic vacancies were taken by the Independents and an eighth by Gwynfor Evans of Plaid Cymru, whose two representatives aligned with the Independents to guarantee their majority.
* J.M. Davies, Independent
* Thomas Davies, Independent
* Griffith Evans, Independent
* Gwynfor R. Evans, Plaid Cymru
* W.H. Mathias, Independent
* J.O. Morgans, Independent
* S.O. Thomas, Independent
* T.J. Williams, Independent
* Emrys Aubrey, Labour
* W. Douglas Hughes, Labour

## By-elections

Following the selection of aldermen the following by-elections were held.

### Caio by-election

Caio by-election 1955 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Independent | Thomas Rees Griffiths | 302 |
| Independent | Thomas Davies | 301 |
| Labour | David John Jenkins | 245 |
| Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing |

### Carmarthen Division 2 by-election

Carmarthen Division 2 by-election 1955 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Independent | David Mansel Thomas | 762 |
| Labour | John Brynmor Jones | 530 |
| Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing |

### Llandeilo Urban by-election

Llandeilo Urban by-election 1955 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Independent | Marie Ann Lewis | 590 |
| Labour | John Oswald Elfryn Thomas | 358 |
| Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing |

### Llanegwad by-election

Llanegwad by-election 1955 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Independent | Thomas Llewellyn Griffiths | 534 |
| Independent | Henry Thomas | 501 |
| Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing |

### Llanelly Division 6 by-election

Llanelly Division 6 by-election 1955 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | W.J. Davies* | unopposed | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Llanfihangel Aberbythych by-election

Llanfihangel Aberbythych by-election 1955 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Independent | David Ivor James Evans | 638 |
| Labour | Thomas Peregrine | 438 |
| Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing |

### Llangadog by-election

Llangadog by-election 1955 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Independent | David Thomas Williams | 561 |
| Independent | William Jones | 534 |
| Independent gain from Plaid Cymru | Independent gain from Plaid Cymru | Swing |

### Trelech by-election

Trelech by-election 1955 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Independent | Stephen Davies | 377 |
| Independent | David Trevor Davies | 356 |
| Independent | John William Bowen | 286 |
| Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing |

### Westfa by-election

Westfa by-election 1955 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | W.J.F. Thomas* | unopposed | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Whitland by-election

Whitland by-election 1955 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Independent | John Ivor Davies | 494 |
| Independent | William Sandbrook Cole | 492 |
| Independent | William Stephen Richards | 168 |
| Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing |