Renowned Rhayader volunteer Del Ho Sang has been named as one of 500 winners of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Volunteer Award.

The prestigious award recognises exemplary volunteer and community work throughout the UK. Out of the 500 winners, just three were chosen to be featured on BBC’s The One Show.

Presenting the award was Owain Wyn Evans, Welsh weatherman and now BBC presenter who has previously raised funds for Children In Need. He successfully sprung the surprise on Del, who was under the impression she had come to volunteer at an event, rather than be the guest of honour at an event that celebrated her volunteering.

Filming took place at CARAD (Community Arts Rhayader and District) where Del regularly volunteers her time. Chair of Trustees Catherine Allan and Trustee Peter Cox, supported by other volunteers, managed to co-ordinate the event at very short notice.

Catherine said: “It was an amazing event. We got five days notice during which time we organised, with various partners, a tea party in our theatre space, with around fifty familiar faces in the audience... an aerialist Kate Hart, another of our volunteers, who performed and a whole heap of décor and logistic support etc. And, of course, all done with the utmost secrecy!”

As part of the celebrations, Del received a personal message from Ainsley Harriott, inviting her to The Big Jubilee Lunch at the Oval Cricket Ground in London, with Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall. This was a particularly touching moment for Del.

Del left Jamaica at the age of 16. She worked in the NHS for 37 and a half years, becoming a midwife before moving to Mid Wales devoting her life to helping her community.

She does tireless amounts of volunteer work and has previously received other accolades such as Powys Volunteer of The Year and Rhayader Citizen of the Year 2020.

The BBC film crew were welcomed into the Rhayader community with Welsh flags and homemade bunting.

They enjoyed meeting Del, who all agreed was a well deserving Platinum Jubilee Volunteer Award winner and brought credit to Rhayader and its community of volunteers.