FORMER Greenhill School pupil Ty Francis has been awarded an MBE from HRH Charles, Prince of Wales at a ceremony at Buckingham Palace.

The honour is for Ty’s services to Wales and was revealed in June as part of the Queen’s annual Birthday Honours List. He was joined by his wife, Alayna, and daughter, Seren, who attended the investiture ceremony inside the Palace.

“I’m very proud to be Welsh, and was incredibly humbled to receive my MBE from HRH Charles, Prince of Wales. Alayna and I work hard to utilise our connections here in New York and around the world to better promote Wales as a place for investment and innovation, and help showcase our amazing country on a global stage,” Ty said.

“It was also amazing to be able to share this occasion with my family because without their love and support, none of this would happen. It was lovely to have my parents Michele and Steve Vince, my aunt Estelle Townsend-Smith and friends Rachel Griffiths and Miranda Evans who travelled up to celebrate with us and represent Pembrokeshire.”

Ty was appointed as a business advocate for the First Minister of Wales, Carwyn Jones AM, back in 2014. A former executive at the New York Stock Exchange, Ty now heads up Global Development for the ICSS, a sports security company and the ‘Save The Dream Foundation’, a global non-profit, implementing and promoting activities to empower children through safe access to sport and to its educational and social values.

He lives and works in New York City, with Alayna, Seren and Henry.