Disabled man Frank Letch who ‘excelled in everything’ dies, aged 80

Tributes have been paid to a man who was able to live with his disability “happily” despite being born without arms.

Frank Letch, a former French teacher at Ysgol y Berwyn in Bala, Gwynedd, and a Devon county councillor for Crediton, died recently aged 80.

Raised in Peckham, London, he spent most of his life in Llanuwchllyn with his late wife, Helen, and their five children, before moving to Devon with his partner, Natalia.

Eleri Llwyd, who worked with Mr Letch at Ysgol y Berwyn, said he was an “extremely popular teacher”.

He gained recognition in Wales for his positivity about living with a disability, with several television shows made about him.

In the 2021 S4C programme DRYCH: Byw Heb Freichiau, Mr Letch said: “I hope it (the show) will help people remember what I was and encourage interest in those with what everyone calls a ‘disability’.”

In the programme, he reflected on his “happy years” in Llanuwchllyn, where he raised his five children with his wife, Helen, and taught for 20 years.

“I loved the area – and so did Helen,” he said.

As a French teacher, languages came easily to Mr Letch, and he quickly became fluent in Welsh.

He added: “I have to say, I think I’m happier because of learning Welsh.

“Especially where we lived – the capital of Wales is Llanuwchllyn, not Cardiff.”

Mr Letch was often seen using his feet to drink pints of beer and throw darts at his local pub.

After losing his wife at 41, he moved from the Bala area to Scotland and then lived in Crediton, Devon, for many years with his partner, Natalia.

In 2015, Mr Letch was awarded an MBE by the Queen for his contributions to local government, having served as chairman of Mid Devon District Council.

On Tuesday, Elfyn Llwyd, the former MP for Dwyfor Meirionnydd, said he was very sad to hear about Mr Letch’s passing.

His wife, Eleri Llwyd, who worked with Mr Letch at Ysgol y Berwyn, told Cymru Fyw that he was an “extremely popular teacher.”

“At school the children loved him – he had a good sense of humour,” she said.

“He wouldn’t take any nonsense.”

According to Ms Llwyd, Mr Letch had a specially adapted bike, which allowed him to travel quickly to and from his home, which was situated outside the village.

However, over time, the journey took much longer, as “everyone wanted to stop and chat with Frank”.

“Frank lived happily with his disability, and he truly excelled in everything he did,” she said.