Dennis, 91, shuns Palace to celebrate MBE with friends

A 91-year-old volunteer turned down an invitation to go to Buckingham Palace to pick up his MBE.

Dennis Jones has spent the past three decades helping thousands of people through his role with Citizens’ Advice in Bridgend.

So he made a special request for the award to be brought to him at the town centre office so he could celebrate with his many colleagues and friends.

The great-grandfather of eight, who turns 92 in August, said he felt “excited, pleased, surprised and dumbfounded” when he learned he was to receive the MBE for service to Citizens’ Advice in the New Year Honours after being nominated by colleagues.

But he turned down Buckingham Palace to help draw attention to the work the charity is doing.

The Lord Lieutenant of Mid Glamorgan, Kate Thomas, brought the award to the office where more than 60 family members, friends and colleagues joined Dennis to celebrate, along with the Mayor of Bridgend County and the Vice-Lord Lieutenant Roy Noble.

Dennis said: “At the Palace it would have been a two-minute occurrence, here it was a pleasant half-day with lots of my friends.”

Having retired from his position as a technician in a steel company, Dennis became a voluntary case worker in the Porthcawl branch in 1988.

When it closed he transferred to Bridgend, where he continues to work no fewer than three days per week helping the sick and disabled appeal against threatened benefit cuts.

He also regularly travels to Cardiff and Port Talbot to support clients at benefits tribunals.

“If we weren’t here a lot of people would accept it,” said Dennis, from Cornelly.

“Some people are distressed, some people are angry and a very high percentage of people feel that they are being called a liar because it’s their word which is being disputed.

“A large part of what we do is our presence at a tribunal, which gives them confidence in a strange situation.

“There’s quite a high success rate at tribunals.”

Kate Henson is the chief officer at Citizens’ Advice Bridgend, where Dennis is one of 40 volunteers and 24 paid staff offering free and impartial advice.

She said Dennis’ professionalism and persistence is invaluable to their clients.

“His contribution is so special because the relationship with the clients is.

“They have huge respect for him, as we all do.

“What he doesn’t know about benefit legislation isn’t worth knowing.

“We are very lucky that he still wants to be part of it and has the same energy he’s had since day one.” Dennis said he sees no reason to stop. “I do get satisfaction and I like meeting people,” he said.

“I would have to look for a reason to stop. You don’t look for a reason to carry on.”