# 1961 Carmarthenshire County Council election

An election to the Carmarthenshire County Council was held in April 1961. It was preceded by the 1958 election and followed, by the 1964 election.

## Overview of the result

A close run election resulted in Labour increasing its majority by two after capturing an additional two seats. In addition, Labour took the majority of the aldermanic vacancies.

## Boundary changes

There were no boundary changes at this election.

## Retiring aldermen

A number of retiring councilors stood down to allow retiring aldermen to be returned unopposed. These included D.T. Williams at Llangadog, who stood down in favour of Gwynfor Evans.

## Unopposed returns

39 members were returned unopposed, including six of the nine members in Llanelli town.

## Contested elections

20 contests took place.

## Summary of results

59 councillors were elected.

## Ward results
### Abergwili

Abergwili 1961 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | William John Phillips* | unopposed | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Ammanford No.1

Ammanford No.1 1961 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Haydn Lewis* | unopposed | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Ammanford No.2

Ammanford No.2 1961 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Thomas E. Evans* | unopposed | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Berwick

Berwick 1961 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Labour | William Isaac Daniel* | |
| Plaid Cymru | David Hubert Evans | |
| Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing |

### Burry Port East

Burry Port East 1961 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Edward Lewis* | unopposed | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Burry Port West

Burry Port West 1961 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Labor Dennis* | unopposed | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Caio

Caio 1961 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | | unopposed | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Carmarthen Division 1

Carmarthen Division 1 1961 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | George V. Davies* | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Carmarthen Division 2

Carmarthen Division 2 1961 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Independent | David Mansel Thomas* | 656 |
| Labour | David Owen | 626 |
| Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing |

### Carmarthen Division 3

Carmarthen Division 3 1961 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Independent | D. Denzil Harries | 748 |
| Ratepayers Association | Graham Jones* | 562 |
| Independent gain from Ratepayers | Independent gain from Ratepayers | Swing |

### Cenarth

Cenarth 1961 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | D.G. James Jones* | unopposed | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Cilycwm

Cilycwm 1961 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Independent | James James | 331 |
| Independent | Thomas L. Jones | 300 |
| Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing |

### Conwil

Conwil 1961 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | W.A. Phillips** | unopposed | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Cwmamman

Cwmamman 1961 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Rev. Oswald Rees Davies* | unopposed | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Felinfoel

Felinfoel 1961 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Arthur Cledwyn Francis* | unopposed | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Hengoed

Hengoed 1961 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Edgar S. Samuel* | unopposed | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Kidwelly

Kidwelly 1961 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Labour | G.O. Williams* | 880 |
| Plaid Cymru | W. Morris | 507 |
| Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing |

### Laugharne

Laugharne 1961 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Tudor H. Fleming Williams* | unopposed | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Llanarthney

Llanarthney 1961 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | D.M. Davies* | unopposed | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Llanboidy

Llanboidy 1961 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | William Joshua Phillips* | unopposed | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Llandebie North

Llandebie North 1961 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | William Morris* | unopposed | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Llandebie South

Llandebie South 1961 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Labour | Idris Evans* | 1,242 |
| Independent | J.R. Griffiths | 372 |
| Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing |

### Llandilo Rural

Llandilo Rural 1961 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | David Marlais Humphreys* | unopposed | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Llandilo Urban

Llandilo Urban 1961 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Independent | D'Arcy Lewis Duckfield* | 499 |
| Labour | W.D. Watkins | 488 |
| Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing |

### Llandovery

Llandovery 1961 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | William J. Davies* | unopposed | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Llandyssilio

Llandyssilio 1961 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Independent | Daniel Clodwyn Thomas | 448 |
| Independent | H.H. Harries* | |
| Labour | Ifor Walter Morgan | 85 |
| Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing |

### Llanedy

Llanedy 1961 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Labour | W. John Evans* | 1,635 |
| Independent | Rev D. Cynddylan Jones | 673 |
| Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing |

### Llanegwad

Llanegwad 1961 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | M.I. Griffiths* | unopposed | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Llanelly Division 1

Llanelly Division 1 1961 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Labour | Dr H.D. Llewellyn* | 1,471 |
| Independent | W. John Thomas | 993 |
| Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing |

### Llanelly Division 2

Llanelly Division 2 1961 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Brinley Owen* | unopposed | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Llanelly Division 3

Llanelly Division 3 1961 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Mrs Claudia R. Rees* | unopposed | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Llanelly Division 4

Llanelly Division 4 1961 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Mrs Loti Rees Hughes* | unopposed | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Llanelly Division 5

Llanelly Division 5 1961 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Labour | Sidney Lewis* | |
| Independent | Gwilym Gibby | 288 |
| Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing |

### Llanelly Division 6

Llanelly Division 6 1961 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | William Douglas Hughes** | unopposed | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Llanelly Division 7

Llanelly Division 7 1961 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | D.J. Williams* | unopposed | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Llanelly Division 8

Llanelly Division 8 1961 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Labour | George M. McConkey* | 667 |
| Independent | Fred Howells | 498 |
| Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing |

### Llanelly Division 9

Llanelly Division 9 1961 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Sidney Ivor Thomas* | unopposed | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Llanfihangel Aberbythych

Llanfihangel Aberbythych 1961 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | David Ivor James Evans* | unopposed | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Llanfihangel-ar-Arth

Llanfihangel-ar-Arth 1961 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Independent | William Harry | 586 |
| Independent | Ivor Thomas Davies* | 487 |
| Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing |

### Llangadog

Llangadog 1961 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Plaid Cymru | Gwynfor Richard Evans** | Unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| | Plaid Cymru gain from Independent | Plaid Cymru gain from Independent | Plaid Cymru gain from Independent | Plaid Cymru gain from Independent | Plaid Cymru gain from Independent |

### Llangeler

Llangeler 1961 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | John Evans | unopposed | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Llangendeirne

Llangendeirne 1961 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Rev R.G. James* | unopposed | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Llangennech

Llangennech 1961 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Labour | John William Boyles* | 1,117 |
| Plaid Cymru | Mrs C.E. Beasley | 526 |
| Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing |

### Llangunnor

Llangunnor 1961 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Independent | John Dobson Phelps* | 909 |
| Ratepayers | John S. Thomas | 214 |
| Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing |

### Llanon

Labour had lost this ward in a by-election.
Llanon 1961 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Labour | David William Jenkins | 1,379 |
| Independent | Clifford Jenkins* | 1,228 |
| Labour gain from Independent | Labour gain from Independent | Swing |

### Llansawel

Llansawel 1961 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | John Morgan* | unopposed | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Llanstephan

Llanstephan 1961 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | J.H. Davies* | unopposed | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Llanybyther

Llanybyther 1961 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Independent | Benjamin Edward Davies* | 792 |
| Independent Labour | Thomas Davies | 580 |
| Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing |

### Myddfai

Myddfai 1961 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Morgan Lewis Jones* | unopposed | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Pembrey

Pembrey 1961 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Simon John Elwyn Samuel* | unopposed | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Pontyberem

Pontyberem 1961 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | David John Jones* | unopposed | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Quarter Bach

Quarter Bach 1961 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Josiah Jones* | unopposed | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Rhydcymerau

Rhydcymerau 1961 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | David Arthur Evans* | unopposed | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### St Clears

St Clears 1961 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Independent | Rev W.J. Rees* | 769 |
| Independent | Tudor N. Evans | 707 |
| Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing |

### St Ishmaels

St Ishmaels 1961 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Labour | C.J. Burgess | 648 |
| Independent | Major J.R.P. Thomas | 639 |
| Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing |

### Trelech

Trelech 1961 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | S.O. Thomas** | unopposed | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Trimsaran

Trimsaran 1961 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Samuel T. Hughes* | unopposed | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Westfa

Westfa 1961 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Emrys Aubrey** | unopposed | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Whitland

Whitland 1961 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | | 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, the majority of the aldermanic seats were taken by Labour.