Helena Jones, a retired teacher from Brecon who was made an honorary druid by the Gorsedd of the Bards at this year’s National Eisteddfod in Anglesey, has been awarded a British Empire Medal.Helena, aged 101, received her BEM for services to young people and the community in Wales.
Helena made the headlines earlier this year when she gave a poetry recital at last year’s National Eisteddfod in Abergavenny. She is thought to have been the oldest person to appear on stage in a competition at the festival.
The award of the BEM comes after Helena was presented with the blue robes that recognise those who have succeeded in the fields of law, science, sports, journalism, media, local and national activities, at the ceremony on the Eisteddfod Maes back in the summer.
At the time Helena, who learnt Welsh at the age of 90, said she was "thrilled" to be made a bard.
She added: “I’ve been going to the Eisteddfod all my life and have competed in eisteddfods since I was five years old and I also started Trallong Eisteddfod, which is still going.”