Steffan Lewis (30 May 1984 – 11 January 2019) was a Welsh politician, who was elected to the National Assembly for Wales in the 2016 election.[1] He represented the electoral region of South Wales East, as a member of Plaid Cymru.
In December 2017, Lewis was diagnosed with terminal bowel cancer.[2] He died on 11 January 2019, aged 34.[3][4][5][6]
In 2015, he was chosen as the top candidate for Plaid Cymru in the South East Wales region and was elected to the National Assembly for Wales in the 2016 election as its youngest-ever member.[9] He succeeded Jocelyn Davies, for whom he had previously worked as a communications officer.[8] He was made the party's Secretary for External Affairs and led the response to Brexit.[9]
Illness and death
Just one year after having taken his seat in the National Assembly, Lewis was diagnosed with bowel cancer in December 2017. It was found that the disease had already spread to other parts of his body, and he was not expected to recover. He spoke openly about fighting the illness and how he was coping.[11]
He died at Ystrad Fawr Hospital in Ystrad Mynach on 11 January 2019. Tributes were paid to him from all parties in the Assembly.
"Steffan was beloved by his friends in Plaid Cymru and we are in a state of shock and grief at losing our very brightest star..."[12]
He was succeeded by Delyth Jewell, who had been second on Plaid's list in the region at the 2016 election.[13]
His funeral was scheduled for 25 January at St Luke's Church, Abercarn, followed by burial at the local cemetery.[14]
Personal life
Lewis married Shona, who is from Inverness, in 2009. They lived in Blackwood and had a son, Celyn, aged three years at the time of his father's death.[8] He was a noted fan of Celtic Football Club.[8][9]
.jpg)
