RHUG Estate's Poultry Manager has been awarded a special Long Service Medal at the Royal Welsh Show.

Gareth Williams is celebrating a significant work anniversary with the farm near Corwen this month having worked there for 40 years. To commemorate the occasion, his tireless efforts have been recognised via a medal.

HRH The Prince of Wales, Prince Charles, was at the Royal Welsh Show congratulated Gareth on receiving his Award.

“It was a huge honour to meet HRH Prince Charles at the Royal Welsh Show and to receive the long service award," he said.

"Farming can be quite an isolated career but I have certainly benefited from being part of the team at Rhug."

Gareth, who is from Llangollen, started working for Rhug in 1979, aged 17, under the former Lord Newborough and shepherd Wil Williams. He was soon offered a permanent position helping manage the farm’s 3,000 sheep.

He also met met his wife, Sue, at Rhug when she came on work experience in 1987.

Gareth said, “I didn’t come from a farming background but knew I wanted to work with sheep so I felt very lucky to have had an experienced shepherd teach me when I first started. When Mr Williams retired four years later I took on the role of head shepherd."