Raymond keeps it in the family with royal honour

GREAT-GRANDFATHER Raymond Rees has followed family footsteps by being honoured for his services to coracle heritage and inland water fishing in Wales.

The 77-year-old Carmarthen coracle-maker and former coracle fisherman was appointed an MBE in the New Year's Honours.

Mr Rees, of Richmond Terrace, who used to run a fishmongers in the town market, said: "It's a great surprise.

"My grandfather William Elias was awarded a British Empire Medal for the same thing during the 1970s and now I have been awarded an MBE.

"I have always tried to keep up the tradition our family have held for the past 200 to 300 years. It's very special. I only wish my wife had been alive — she would have been very proud of that."

His wife Linda died in 2009, aged 67.

While he was delighted with the honour, Mr Rees said he received even better news over Christmas.

"My granddaughter had a baby on Boxing Day," he said. "It's been a great end to a better year than I had the previous year, that's for sure."

Mr Rees, like his family before him, has played a key role in preserving the coracle fishing culture on the Tywi.

He still makes his own coracles and nets, and passes that knowledge on to others.

But he has also adapted and can make the small river craft out of materials such as carbon fibre, as well as more traditional wood.

Mr Rees said he was the first life president of the British Coracle Society, the organisation set up by Sir Peter Black to encourage coracle use.

Also honoured were Carole Evans, of Ammanford, who was appointed an OBE for her work as head of the contact centre at the DVLA.

And Ian Arundale, Chief Constable of Dyfed-Powys Police, will receive the Queen's Police Medal for distinguished service.

Mr Arundale said: "I was both delighted and shocked when I heard.

"It is such a wonderful honour and privilege, as well as a tribute to the hard work of those I have had the pleasure of working with over the years."

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