A BRECON-based businessman was so touched by the kindness shown to him by the Estonian community that when the opportunity to repay them back arose he simply couldn’t turn it down.

Sir Roger Jones has recently retired from his role as the first honorary consul to Estonia after more than a decade.

The multi-millionaire business guru said it was his love of Folk music which saw him develop a fondness for the Estonian community.

"In the 1960s I was living in Cardiff," said the 73-year-old. "Folk music is was very big in Estonia and I really enjoyed that kind of music. There was a large Estonian community in Cardiff at the time, as many had come to Wales in the 1940s to mine. They established the Estonia Club on Charles Street in the city. I discovered the club and spent quite a lot of my social time there. The place was really lively and the people were so welcoming and kind to me. I never, ever forgot this kindness and have so many fond memories of my time there."

Sir Roger carved his career in Pharmaceuticals, working for an international company in Africa for more than 15 years, before returning to Wales setting up Penn Pharmaceuticals. During his career he has championed the use of alternative treatments as Director of Agropharm Ltd, including maggot therapy which has revolutionised the way pressure sores are treated. His diverse career path not only led him to being awarded an OBE for his service to pharmaceuticals and later a knighthood in the 2005 New Year’s Honours List, he also served as Governor for the BBC, from 1996 to 2002, and chairman for Children In Need.

Despite becoming one of the most innovative figures in the pharmaceutical industry and influential character in business, serving as Chairman for the now defunct Welsh Development Agency, his fondness for the Estonian people remained.

"I was always aware of the issues in the country," said the father-of-two. "Especially when the country was occupied by Russia. I was overjoyed when they regained independence in 1991."

But it was more than a decade later that the grandfather-of-three received the opportunity to repay the Estonian people for their kindness.

"It was by chance that the opportunity arose," he said. "I met the Lithuanian Consul at the time who told me that they were looking for a consul to Estonia. So I sent an email to the Embassy to put myself forward.

"I was extremely honoured to have been given the job."

His role was more than ten years was to protect the interests of the Estonian people living in the UK, providing help and support where it’s needed.

"Fortunately for me," he said. "and those who I represented, there have not been any serious issues which needed intervention. I was so grateful to have been in the role and to be able to give something back to those who were kind to me."