THE Secretary of State for Wales, Peter Hain, will present an honorary MBE to Mr. Leonardus Ekkes, former head gardener at Picton Castle, in Cardiff, on Monday. Mr. Ekkes will be receiving his MBE for his services to horticulture and the community in Pembrokeshire. He was head gardener at Picton Castle for 34 years and it is largely due to his dedication and horticultural skills that the gardens have been transformed into a spectacular 50-acre attraction. Although now retired, Mr Ekkes, who is a Dutch national, has continued to work long hours collecting and propagating thousands of specimen trees and shrubs from all corners of the world. Mr. Hain will be joined at the ceremony by the Wales Office Minister, Nick Ainger, who is also Mr. Ekkes' MP.
