A rugby club president who has given 50 years service to his community has been awarded the British Empire Medal.
Owen Parfitt of Pentwyn Avenue Blackwood is the first person in Gwent to receive the British Empire Medal in 20 years after it was revived to honour community workers.
Friends and family of the former teacher gathered to witness the regal ceremony which recognised Mr Parfitt’s 50 years of service to Blackwood Rugby Club.
Formal proceedings saw Her Majesty The Queen’s representative for the County of Gwent, The Lord-Lieutenant, Mr Simon Boyle, CStJ, JP present the medal, in the ceremony room of Penallta House council headquarters, in the presence of the Mayor of Caerphilly County Borough Council Cllr. Gaynor Oliver.
Mr Parfitt’s time at Blackwood Rugby Club has seen him evolve from a player to a coach followed by a committee member and latterly the longest serving chairman in Welsh rugby with 30 years service; his journey has not ended there as he now serves as president.
Lord-Lieutenant Simon Boyle said: “This is a very special occasion. Mr Parfitt is the first to be awarded the BEM in Gwent since 1992, and I am delighted to present this medal to him on behalf of HM The Queen, amongst this fine gathering of his family and friends.
“I congratulate Mr Parfitt most warmly for achieving this honour for all he has done over a lifetime of service to Blackwood Rugby Club, and to the wider Rugby world. His passion for the game has been an inspiration to innumerable others.”
The British Empire medal was revived in June 2012 for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and is awarded for meritorious civil or military service worthy of recognition by the Crown on a local level.
The award is the second acknowledgement of Mr Parfitt’s services to rugby as he has also received Newport Gwent Dragons Volunteer Award 2009 for his outstanding contribution to rugby within the region.