A MEIRIONNYDD man with more than 38 years of experience with the Welsh Ambulance Service has collected a Queen’s Ambulance Service Medal at a ceremony hosted by Her Majesty.

Gordon Roberts, born and raised in Bala, picked up his medal at a ceremony in Windsor Castle after he was recognised in last year’s Birthday Honours list.

The Queen’s Ambulance Service Medal is awarded to distinguish exemplary service from ambulance workers in the NHS and reward exceptional devotion to duty.

Of his investiture, Gordon said: “To collect a medal from the Queen is an honour it itself but the fact that my family were there to share it with me made it all the more special.

“The ceremony itself was fantastic. It was an experience I’ll never forget.”

When Gordon was first told about his award, he thought it was a “wind up”.

“I had a text message on Saturday morning from a friend congratulating me and I just thought it was a wind up, then more and more text messages came through,” he said.

“I went onto the internet and read my name on the official list, and couldn’t believe it.”

See the full story in this week’s Meirionnydd edition of the Cambrian News