Wales regional winners

Stanley Power, a pensioner from Rhondda, has won the Individual Award for Wales. Mr Power has campaigned tirelessly for years to ensure that Service men and women are treated fairly.

The other winners in Wales were Clwyd and Gwynedd Army Cadet Force in the Youth category, Gurnos Nursery School in the Community Group category and the Welsh Rugby Union in the Corporate category.

Stanley Power

For over 30 years, Mr Power has worked as a volunteer caseworker for a Forces charity and 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.

On winning the award Mr Power said, "I have been looking after people all my life and I am speechless at being given this award from The Royal British Legion. I am very proud to continue supporting the British Armed Forces in any way that I can for as long as I can."

Kinsey Shepherd, County Welfare Officer from The Royal British Legion commented, "Stanley has been a dedicated supporter of the Armed Forces community for many years. His achievements are even more remarkable given he is 80 years of age. Despite his age, Stanley continues to be of great comfort and a point of contact to veterans and their families. Not only is this award greatly deserved, it is a testament to the work that Stanley has done."

Stanley has been shortlisted for the National award in the Individual category. 

Clwyd & Gwynedd Army Cadet Force

Since 2009, the Cadets have collected donations from across the whole of North Wales and raised over £15,000 in the process - they hope to be able to beat this target in 2010. In addition, one platoon has adopted the soldiers' graves of St Johns Church cemetery in Rhosllanerchrugog (Rhos), where they tend to individual graves.

Colonel Mike Mullis, Commandant of the ACF said, "This award acknowledges the good work the young people do, not just in support of the Armed Forces, but for the communities these young people live in. I am proud to command the Clwyd and Gwynedd ACF, and this award is a public recognition of the voluntary work the adults do to support the young people of the region."

Reverend Stuart Evans, former Vicar of Rhosllanerchrugog said "I am proud that the Rhos Platoon of the Clwyd & Gwynnedd ACF has been recognised for this award as it proves that the ACF continues to promote the need to care for the community in which its platoons are based - this is the Christian ideal of 'loving one's neighbour' in action. At a time when people are often critical of the youth of today, the way that Rhos Platoon is caring for the graves of heroes from the past is a reminder that, 150 years since it first began, the ACF continues to promote good citizenship in the 21st century." 

Gurnos Nursery School

The toddlers (aged from two to five years of age) from Gurnos Nursery in Merthyr Tydfil took part in a sponsored walk and raised over £1,000.

"We were delighted to be nominated and winning the award is an honour", said Mrs. Judith Stevens MBE, Gurnos Nursery School's head teacher. "Our school ethic is about caring and sharing, so to do something for the Armed Forces is a natural thing for us to do. We wanted to show our support in a tangible way, and even though the children are very small, their parents helped us to raise money for injured and serving soldiers."

Guardsman Aaron Dalton, 1st Battalion Welsh Guards commented, "It is great news that Gurnos Nursery is receiving this award. My little brother attends the school and I was really happy to join them on their sponsored walk, as it was a chance to see first hand the support shown to the Armed Forces by not only the children, but the staff and parents. They deserve this recognition for all their efforts."

Welsh Rugby Union

The Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) allow 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.

"We at the WRU are honoured to receive this award," said WRU Chief Executive Roger Lewis. "We are always looking for ways in which we can show our appreciation for our Armed Forces and by allowing Forces charities to collect during matches amongst other activities, we are delighted to be supporting the wider Armed Forces community."

Warrant Officer, Mal Kelleher-Griffiths from The Royal Welsh commented, "This award is well-deserved as the Welsh Rugby Union has always shown a great amount of respect and support not only to the local Armed Forces community, but also to the entire British Armed Forces family. They allow charities to collect and fundraise during important matches and this makes such a difference to serving and ex-Service personnel."

The Welsh Rugby Union has been shortlisted for the National award in the Corporate category.

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