Welsh Rugby Union President Dennis Gethin was delighted to accept a Royal British Legion’s Friends of the Forces Award certificate at the Millennium Stadium today.
Brigadier Russ Wardle OBE presented the certificate to the WRU President for the exceptional support it continues to offer the British Armed Forces after the Union was named the winner of the Commercial Organisation category for Wales.
The WRU allows Forces charities to collect and fundraise during key matches throughout the year, among many other initiatives carried out in recent years as a show of support. These include the Welsh team sending video messages of support to Serving personnel in Afghanistan during the recent RBS 6 Nations campaign, inviting injured veterans and Serving soldiers as special guests of the WRU to Wales international matches and hosting a memorial service and homecoming for the 2nd Battalion Royal Welsh at the Millennium Stadium.
A pensioner from Rhondda, Mr Stanley Power, and Gurnos Nursery School from Merthyr Tydfil were also recognised for their support of members of the British Armed Force at today’s presentation.
Mr. Stanley Power has won the individual category for Wales in recognition of his work as a volunteer case worker for a Forces charity. This year he lobbied the Welsh Assembly to ensure that service families were not having to pay Council Tax on two properties whilst on service or living in barracks. He has also worked to ensure that War Pensions are disregarded fully by the local authority when calculating benefit entitlement and helped to install the army cadet unit in Treorchy Comprehensive School. In addition, he gives his time every year to arrange the memorial service at Cwmparc Primary School which was bombed during the war.
The toddlers from the Gurnos Nursery (aged from two to five years of age) took part in a sponsored walk and raised over £1,000 for a Forces charity. They have won the community group category for Wales.
“It is an honour and a privilege to receive this certificate on behalf of the Welsh Rugby Union along with young children from Gurnos Nursery School and Mr Stanley Power,” said Mr Gethin.
“We do a lot to try and help the armed forced with the Welsh international rugby team here at the Millennium Stadium and we are always looking for opportunities to increase that support and raise awareness for the individuals who put their lives at risk and their wider families.”
Claire Williams, The Royal British Legion’s County Manager said: “All of Wales’ winners have put in an exceptional effort to offer help and support to the Armed Forces family and we are extremely pleased to be recognising their dedication through this award. We received many excellent entries from across Wales, however the judges were incredibly impressed by the outstanding work that these winners have been doing. On behalf of the British Armed Forces, The Royal British Legion would like to say a huge thank you to them.”
Winners have been chosen in categories recognising individual, youth, community and corporate contributions across eight regions covering England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Mr. Power and the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) have also been shortlisted for the national award.
