Charity worker receives royal honour

Ken Davies MBE with his medal outside Buckingham Palace

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A Rochdale charity worker who was named in the Queen’s New Year Honours list has collected his MBE from Buckingham Palace.

Ken Davies has worked tirelessly over the last 30 years and was awarded the MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) for services to charity in Rochdale.

Mr Davies attended the investiture ceremony at Buckingham Palace last Friday (21 May) and was presented with his medal by the Prince of Wales, who went on to wish Mr Davies well for the future and to continue with the charity work, telling him to ‘keep busy.’

It was six months ago when Mr Davies first received the letter about the MBE, he said: “Lots of things built up to the day, I was looking forward to it so much and it was even better than I anticipated.”

Mr Davies was joined by his wife, Joan and sons, Alun and Iain for the ceremony, he said: “We had a wonderful four days in London, the weather was great. We had such a lovely time and it was very special indeed. It has taken me a week to come down and I am really proud.

“The Prince of Wales presented the awards, which is very fitting as I have a strong Welsh background and my father would have been very proud of me meeting the Prince of Wales.”

A particular pleasing part of the day for Mr Davies was the interest the Prince of Wales showed in his work, “Prince Charles was very well informed, he showed an interest in what I had done, he knew about my work with the hospice and the free-masons and for me that made the ceremony extra special, it was very personal.”

Mr Davies started fundraising in the 1970s and it has been something he has thoroughly enjoyed doing over the years. He said: “Raising money is something I really enjoy and I enjoy doing it in a friendly manner.

“I must thank my wife Joan for all her support over the last 30 years and my sons Iain and Alun. My family and friends have backed me all the way with everything I have done. The support I have had over the years has been brilliant.”

Over the years, Mr Davies has worked with the Rochdale Masons, Rotary charities, the Mayors charity appeal and cancer charities throughout the borough, including Springhill Hospice where he later became Fundraising Director.

In 2006, Mr Davies was made ‘Man of Rochdale’ for all his efforts in working with local charities.