Fuel protests leader Brynle Williams passes away aged 62

Brynle Williams, the man at the forefront of the 2000 fuel protests, has died aged 62.

Born in Cilcain, near Mold, North Wales, Williams first came to public prominence as the farmer who led the blockade at the Stanlow oil refinery in Ellesmere Port, Cheshire, in September 2000. This sparked further blockades at other UK sites during the now infamous week-long fuel protests.

Williams passed away on Thursday 31 March, and leaves his wife Mary and a son and a daughter.

He was elected to the Welsh Assembly as AM (Assembly Member) for North Wales for the Welsh Conservative Party in 2003 having stood as a candidate in Clwyd West. He was re-elected in 2007 as the lead candidate in North Wales and later became Shadow Minister for Rural Affairs.

Before the fuel blockade, he was a leading campaigner at the protest against the importation of beef at Holyhead.

Lord Dafydd Elis-Thomas, National Assembly for Wales presiding officer, says: "To describe him as unique would be a complete understatement. Even in times of trouble, he would be positive; I doubt he had a negative bone in his body."