Remembering Hefin David

The Ruperra Castle Preservation Trust was devasted to hear of the passing of Hefin David MS, Caerphilly earlier this month. Hefin was a huge supporter of the trust for more than a decade and massively helped with our events and campaigning to save Ruperra Castle in his constituent borough. 

Hefin David and Bedwas, Trethomas and Machen Community Councillors Amanda McConnell and Jill Winslade presenting a £300 cheque from the Co-op to the Ruperra Castle Preservation Trust in 2016.

In 2021 he hosted embroidery workshops at the Senedd in Cardiff Bay, and also locally in Caerphilly to involve the local community in creating a new artwork with artist Haf Weighton.

Hefin David and Jayne Bryant Senedd Members, with artist Haf Weighton and trustees of Ruperra Castle Preservation Trust at the Senedd.
He supported our 2023 Senedd petition for conservation management plans to be made compulsory for scheduled monuments at risk, and brought others together across parties in the Senedd debate in October 2023. Watch his speech on Senedd.tv which pays tribute to our trust and where he fondly remembers a very wet open doors day in the barn at Ruperra Home Farm. He called for the castle’s owner to come back to the table for discussions and asked for a review of the Historic Environment (Wales) Act 2023. He also championed a structural survey of the castle, which was eventually part funded by Cadw in 2024. Read his speech in the plenary.

Minister Jack Sargeant, Hefin David, John Griffiths MS and members of the Ruperra Castle Preservation Trust after the Senedd debate in 2023.
He facilitated numerous meetings over the years with Cadw and Caerphilly County Borough Council officers and Councillors. Most recently in June 2025 he was helping us explore safety on the site to enable use of the public right of way going through the Castle grounds.

Hefin was always fair, supportive, optimistic and generous with his time. We are very grateful to Hefin and his colleagues Alex Still and Laura Green for their continued support over the years.

He will be greatly missed and our condolences go out to his family, friends and colleagues at this very difficult time.