Mountain rescuer picks up his MBE

A MOUNTAIN rescuer has received an honour for his dedicated 35 years of service.

Huw Lloyd Jones, 53, who is the deputy team leader of the Central Beacons Mountain Rescue team, was presented with the MBE by the Queen earlier this month.

“Someone said to me during it that it was a once-in-a-lifetime experience,” said Mr Jones who has been a part of thousands of rescue operations.

“We got there at 9.30am. We did not have to be there until 10am, but we were taking no chances. We were there for three hours.”

According to Mr Jones, from Dowlais, Merthyr Tydfil, all his years of service has not just been a commitment for himself, but also for his loved ones.

“It is an award that recognises over 35 years of service with mountain rescue. Not just for me, but for my family as well,” he said.

“It is not just the callouts. There are also courses and fundraising. Sometimes we get called and then stood down in a few minutes.

“We prefer that because it is better to be called early and then stood down than to arrive at something too late to help.

“It can be hard for the family because sometimes I could be out for days. I won’t always have a mobile signal so they won’t know when I am coming back.

“I remember once there was severe weather.

“The police and ambulance asked for our help to use 4x4s as the ambulances were struggling with the bad weather.

“I also remember we were called out for a crash helicopter that came down in the Brecon Beacons.

“That was two full days over the weekend and we didn’t get back until the Sunday night.”

Mr Jones, who also took part in the huge search for murdered Machynlleth schoolgirl April Jones, said he has been taken aback by the response from the community since the award was announced.

He said: “I have been overwhelmed by the amount of messages of support I have received.

“I have had literally hundreds of good wishes and congratulations. Some of them have been complete strangers.

“It (the MBE) is still in its little box. It will be framed and put on the wall but at the moment a lot people want to see it.”