An Aberaeron man was amongst outstanding achievers from across Wales recognised at the Armed Forces in Wales Awards.

This year’s event took place at the St Fagans National Museum of History in Cardiff.

There were 14 people nominated in the four award categories of Sports, Youth and Cadet, Covenant and the overall Armed Forces Award.

They included Chris Evans MBE, from Aberaeron, of 223 (West Glamorgan) Squadron, 157 (Welsh) Regiment RLC who was the Armed Forces Award winner.

Chris joined the Army in 1980 and has completed 38 years of regular and full-time reserve service.

He was awarded the MBE in 1999 for service in Northern Ireland. In 2005, he became the Regimental Quartermaster of the Welsh Transport Regiment in Cardiff. In 2009, he became permanent staff admin officer of 223 (West Glamorgan) Transport Squadron.

Here he has delivered valuable training and vastly improved the unit’s infrastructure in Swansea.

His recruiting efforts and basic administration underpin the squadron’s manning. He is also the military and civil integration lead for both Swansea County Council and Neath and Port Talbot Council.

Special guests on the evening were Sam Warburton OBE, former Wales and British and Irish Lions captain and Alun Davies AM, the Cabinet secretary for local government and public services.

Nineteen public and private organisations from around Wales were also recognised during the special evening for their support and commitment towards defence with the Employer Recognition Scheme Silver Awards.

See this week’s South Ceredigion paper for the full story, available in shops and as a digital edition now