AN AUTHOR and social historian, whose upbringing in Colwyn Bay in the years just after the Second World War inspired her writing, has died.

Cindy Lowe lived in Thames Ditton for much of her life, but made regular visits to the town for her research and to maintain involvement in local community activities. She was a member of the Civic Society and an enthusiastic and recognisable participant in the 40s festivals

Arthur Creber, chairman of the Colwyn Bay Heritage group said: “Her passion for the town, its history and its development was infectious and she found a ready response to her request for stories for her publications.

“She has left a valuable legacy to the town which will entertain and inform residents and visitors well into the future.

She was a prolific writer, and produced a novel entitled “To where we once Belonged: Colwyn Bay revisited”, based on her upbringing in Colwyn Bay. She also wrote the acclaimed and defining history of Colwyn Bay's accommodation of The Ministry of Food during the Second World War: “Colwyn Bay Accredited: The wartime experience”.

In recent years Cindy worked with the Colwyn Bay Heritage Group to compile collections of memories from local people, of life in the town in times past.

Arthur added: “Her novel, historical accounts of the town and collections of oral histories are a valued addition to the written archive of material on Colwyn Bay.”