Tributes have poured in for retiring Senedd member Lesley Griffiths as she bowed out with an emotional final visit to a Wrexham care home.

The city’s long-serving MS was hailed as a “wonderful standard bearer for Wrexham” during a surprise tea part marking the end of her 19 years in Cardiff Bay.

Ms Griffiths who is standing down ahead of the May 7 elections was visibly moved as residents and staff at Pendine Park’s Hillbury Care Home thanked her for nearly two decades of backing for the social care sector.

The former Welsh Government Minister, who held several different Cabinet posts, took part in an art class before being presented with flowers and a handmade card in recognition of her  support for the care organisation and the wider industry

Retiring North Wales politician Lesley Griffiths has been praised for being a “wonderful standard bearer for Wrexham and for the social care sector”.

Mario Kreft MBE, who launched Pendine Park 40 years ago with his wife Gill, said Ms Griffiths had been a key supporter and champion of the care sector over many of those years.

He told Ms Griffiths: “You have been a huge friend of Pendine and the care industry throughout your career.

“You have been a wonderful standard bearer for Wrexham and for the social care sector.

“You are a flag bearer for fairness, exactly the sort of person in my opinion who should go into politics.

“You went into politics wanting to make a difference and you have made a difference.

“I know you’re a huge Wrexham AFC fan and I am hoping we will all be able to celebrate Wrexham being in the Premiership.

“You’ll of course always be welcome at Pendine, we send you our love and best wishes and hope you have a long and happy retirement.”

Mr Kreft added: “Lesley embodies what the best politicians should be and that is about working for the people and the community.

“All the portfolios that she has had, whether it has been agriculture, health, local government, she has given it her best shot.

“And she has always stood up for Wrexham, and always been a voice for it.

“For Pendine, she has been a huge supporter of what we are doing, because she cares for people.

“From the directors and the staff and everyone connected to Pendine, we genuinely want the very best for people within the challenges that we will face, and Lesley wants that too.”

Lesley Griffiths was “overwhelmed” by the kindness shown by Mr Kreft, his wife Gill and the staff at Hillbury in marking her retirement.

And she paid tribute to the work of everyone involved in the care sector.

She said: “I have been to lots of tea parties at a variety of Pendine’s places over the years, but I have never had one in my honour before, so that is really lovely.

“I am always made to feel very welcome and it’s always a pleasure to come and see the care that you give to families.

“It can be a very difficult time for a lot of families, and the way you care for their most treasured possessions is amazing.

“There has always got to be a focus on the social care sector, I have been saying that for the 19 years I have been at the Senedd.

“It is just great that you are all so dedicated and caring. What would we do without you? “I really don’t know.”

Ms Griffiths took part in an art session run by Pendine’s creative arts consultant Jason Bennion.

The sessions are part of the care group’s pioneering enrichment programme.

The group’s consultant artist in residence Sarah Edwards said Ms Griffiths was a passionate supporter of the enrichment scheme.

Sarah said: “Lesley has been an incredible supporter of the care sector and to Pendine over the years.

“We view her as a great friend of ours, she is always there whenever we need her, she will come to special events and celebrations.

“Whenever she is here she engages with people, and she has a lovely way with our residents and that speaks volumes.

“We work in challenging environments at times and our main ethos at Pendine is to enrich the lives of our residents and Lesley contributes to that.

“A lot of people see coming into a home as the end of your life, but we view it as a new chapter in your life and Lesley is very supportive of that.

“We will be really sorry to see her go but we wish her well in her retirement.

“In my view she has done an amazing job for Wrexham and for Wales, and I think she will be a huge loss to Wrexham.”

Hillbury home manager Cindy Clutton added: “Lesley has been a great support to not just Hillbury but the Pendine organisation as a whole.

“She is always welcome, she enjoys the art classes we have with the residents, she’s been a couple of times, and she is more than welcome to join us for more.”