Two former soldiers who won medals as part of the UK team competing at the Invictus Games have been given a standing ovation at a full Caerphilly County Borough Council meeting.
John Prosser and Donna Davies were congratulated on their achievements at the full council meeting on Tuesday July 19 after winning two medals each at the Games, which were held in Orlando in May.
The Invictus Games is an international Paralympic-style event in which wounded, injured or sick armed services personnel and veterans compete in a range of sports.
A brain-child of Prince Harry, the first Games were held in London in 2014, before this year’s event in Orlando where the UK team competed against 13 other nations, picking up 131 medals in the process.
Donna, from Ystrad Mynach, is a former army corporal and a swim instructor with Caerphilly County Borough Council, and won a silver medal in the cycling road race and a bronze medal in the time trial cycling event.
Donna joined the Army in 2001 as an aircraft technician for the Royal Electrical Mechanical Engineers, and following a series of knee operations and lower back pain as a result, was medically discharged in 2013.
She took part in various sports including football and swimming during her time in the forces, and has kept active over the last three years with the Help for Heroes sports recovery programme.
John, from Caerphilly, served in the military for more than 25 years, trains at Caerphilly Leisure Centre, and won a gold and a silver medal in rowing at the Games.
Having suffered several parachuting injuries during his service, John got back into fitness and sport through the GP Exercise Referral Scheme and began competing at Llandaff Rowing Club in Cardiff, in August 2015, before his selection to the UK Invictus Games Team in April of this year.
He said: “I feel very humble that the Mayor and Caerphilly County Borough Council members wanted to meet us at the council meeting and congratulate us both on our achievements at the Invictus Games in Orlando.”
“I am honoured to have had the chance to represent the wounded, injured and sick veterans in the local community.”
Cllr Nigel George, Cabinet Member for Community and Leisure Services said: “We were delighted to welcome John and Donna to formally congratulate them on their achievements at the recent Invictus Games.
“It is great to see two people who have overcome adversity excelling in sport and representing their country at such a prestigious tournament.
“Both are fantastic role models for young people in our county borough and beyond, and we’re very proud of all they have achieved.”