‘His wisdom benefited all’: Tribute to Riverside community pillar Jaswant Singh

It’s been both a shock and a matter of great sadness to learn of the death of Jaswant Singh at age 85, a long-standing Riverside resident and one of the most prominent members of Cardiff’s Sikh community.

As with many others, I had known Jas for more than 40 years. He represented Riverside as both a Labour and Plaid Cymru councillor. I’ll be forgiven, I hope, for believing that his heart always really belonged to Labour. Work as a councillor was only one of a huge number of community contributions which Jas sustained over that long period, including being on the governing bodies of Kitchener and Fitzalan schools.

We are very fortunate in Cardiff to live in a fantastic multicultural and multifaith city. That doesn’t just happen by accident. It takes a great deal of committed work from faith leaders of all persuasions, coming together to create the conditions in which all can thrive. Jas was a powerful and positive presence in those meetings, bringing his experience and his wisdom to the benefit of all.

He will be very sadly missed in the Cardiff West constituency office, in the wider Riverside community but most of all, of course, by his many friends and family members.