A MUCH-LOVED part of the furniture at the Brecon & Radnor Express is going to be missing next week when head of accounts Megan finishes working at the paper.

Megan, has been at the B&R since August 1982 when she took up a part-time job managing the newspaper’s sub office in Builth Wells.

When Megan started working at the paper it was owned by the Sayce family and it was not long before they spotted her potential and had her working at both offices in Builth Wells and Brecon.

In 1996, when the Builth Wells office closed, Megan was transferred to Brecon to assist in the accounts and seven years later, in 2003, she was put in charge of the department.

Unfortunately a restructuring within the B&R’s parent company Tindle Newspapers means Megan has now had to take redundancy, having worked at the paper for 36 years.

In fact Megan says her association with the paper goes back even longer as before she started working at the Builth Wells office she used to submit local news items which the editor would include in the paper.

A pillar of her local community, Megan serves as secretary/treasurer of Llanafanfawr and District Community Centre and clerk to Llanafanfawr and Llanwrthwl Community Councils.

She is also a member of the local WI and has had a lifelong involvement with Troedrhiwdalar Eisteddfod.

In the past she has successfully bred and shown Black Welsh Mountain Sheep and these days she assists her nephew Gethin when he shows poultry at Poultry Club of Wales shows and the Royal Welsh Show.

Besides being a stickler for properly submitted expenses claims and keeping a tight rein on the paper’s finances, Megan has a reputation at the B&R for always being on time and never having a day off. 

Considering her journey from Llanafanfawr is a little matter of 22 miles each way, over Mynydd Eppynt, this is no mean feat. During inclement weather conditions she takes the long way round, through Erwood and Llyswen, and when there’s snow on the ground she has been known to park her car two miles from home and finish the journey on foot.

For someone who is used to a 44-mile round commute, Megan says she is actually not too keen on personal travel. She said: “I don’t like going far away from home. It may be why I’ve spent all my life in the family home in Llanafanfawr.”

As she has always been good with numeracy, she says her dream was to work in accounts – an ambition she fulfilled at the B&R.

Megan’s hobbies include cookery and needlework and enjoys a close relationship with her sister and family.

Asked if she is looking forward to retirement Megan said she would miss going to work every day but is looking forward to embracing new opportunities.