A FORMER west Dorset schoolboy has been re-elected to the Welsh Assembly.

Vaughan Gething, who attended school in Broadwindsor and Beaminster was re-elected as an Assembly Member (AM) with an increased majority after first winning his seat for Cardiff South and Penarth in 2011.

This year, the Labour AM won 13,274 votes to secure his place on the Welsh Assembly.

The former local cricketer has also been promoted to the post of cabinet secretary for health, wellbeing and sport in the Welsh Government - having previously served as deputy minister for health.

In this role, Mr Gething will have oversight for the under-pressure NHS Wales and be responsible for an overall budget of almost £7bn.

Mr Gething attended Beaminster School from 1985 to 1992, and played for both Beaminster and Broadwindsor cricket clubs.

Mr Gething’s family had a long association with west Dorset schools as his sister and four brothers attended Beaminster School. Vaughan and brother Caradoc were keen cricketers and played for both Broadwindsor and Beaminster sides.

Vaughan’s father David was a popular local vet at Beaminster practice Gething and Bowditch which became Girling and Bowditch following David’s retirement. Mr Gething will now sit on the Welsh Assembly for another five years.

He thanked people in west Dorset for messages of support during his campaign and is looking forward to catching up with friends when he next visits the area.

He said: “It is tremendous to have been re-elected with an increased majority.

“I am looking forward to serving my constituents in Cardiff South and Penarth. I am tremendously grateful for the messages of support and goodwill that I received from Dorset before the campaign as well as the congratulations afterwards.

“I look forward to visiting soon to catch up with the many friends I still have from my time growing up in Dorset.”

At the age of 34 in 2008, Mr Gething became the first black president of the Welsh TUC and the youngest holder of the prestigious post.