A Welsh Ambulance Service boss took a step back in time when he collected his Queen’s Ambulance Service Medal.

Rob Jeffery, the Trust’s Head of Operations responsible for the Hywel Dda and Powys areas, was presented with the medal by Princess Anne on Tuesday at Windsor Castle.

The award, which was made as part of the Queen’s New Year’s Honours List, was handed to him almost 42 years to the day since he performed his first ceremonial guard at the castle as a member of the Welsh Guards.

Pembroke-born Rob attended the ceremony with his wife Paula Jeffery, an Advanced Nurse Paramedic based in Tenby and his 21-year-old son Alex, who has not long joined the Trust’s Urgent Care Service and his youngest daughter Claire.

He said: “It was strange going back, but they went to great lengths to make you feel welcome and they were very friendly.

“I know people will find this hard to be believe, but I joined the army when I was 15 and I’m now 61.

“Princess Anne was really chatty and talkative so it made it a really good day to remember.

“She said she’d heard good things about the Welsh Ambulance Service and wanted to know about telemedicine.”

After leaving the Welsh Guard in 1980, Rob later joined the Pembrokeshire Ambulance Service in 1985 as a relief technician based in Pembroke Dock.

He qualified as a paramedic in 1991 and has subsequently held a string of posts and roles including control manager, regional staff officer, regional personnel manager, production manager and national staff side secretary.

He is now the Trust’s Head of Operations in the Hywel Dda and Powys health board areas.

Dedicating the award to his colleagues, Rob said: “It was quite a humbling experience and I was very conscious that I was actually receiving the award on behalf of all the ambulance staff past and present.

“I was also conscious that this award reflected how highly ambulance services, not just in Wales but across the UK, were held.

“The award recognises the teamwork and commitment that everyone puts in basically.”

Chief Executive Tracy Myhill said: “We are extremely proud that Rob has been recognised for his years of hard work and dedication in this way.

“We’re also glad that he and his family enjoyed themselves on what must have been a very memorable day.

“Rob has dedicated more than 30 years to the service and is highly respected among his colleagues.”