HAVING heard the news back in June that he was to be awarded the MBE for his services to the Army and his role as a Welsh Ambulance Service Community First Responder, Captain Glenn Hall from Barry recently received his medal from HRH the Princess Royal at a ceremony in Windsor Castle.

Originally from Newton Abbot in Devon, Glenn joined the Army at the age of 16 and worked his way through the ranks. He spent his 18th birthday in the middle of a riot on the Falls Road in Belfast, and served in Iraq during the first and second Gulf Wars.

During his service he has spent time on duties in Belize, The Falkland Islands, Canada, Germany and on a United Nations tour of duty in Cyprus.

"In 2006 I left the regular Army to take up my present job as Regimental Operations Support Officer with the Welsh Transport Regiment Royal Logistic Corps at Maindy Barracks in Cardiff," said the 52-year-old granddad-of-two.

"It was a wonderful to be recognised by Her Majesty The Queen - but to receive the MBE from The Princess Royal, who is the Colonel in Chief of the Royal Logistic Corps, was the icing on the cake!"

In his current role, Glenn is responsible for informing families when a soldier is killed or injured on active service.

"However difficult my current job is, I'd rather that I was doing it than anyone else," he said.

"There's many a time when I've been pushed out of the door by a grieving parent or partner, and I just stand there until the door opens again and I'm able to offer my support and comfort.

"To be recognised for that part of my work is a great honour."

The MBE is also in recognition of Glenn's work as a Community First Responder (CFR) in Barry.

"In 2009 I was driving through Barry and saw someone wearing a CFR jacket," he said.

"A couple of days later I saw a photo of Barry co-ordinator Bryan Foley in the paper and read the article which mentioned an upcoming course - and the rest is history, so to speak.

"One of my first calls saw me helping a young family where a baby was being born in a bit of a hurry!

"It's a matter of helping patients, relatives and also ambulance crews," he added.

"Just being present can be such a relief and support for families; and when the ambulance crew arrive, we can be supportive and pass on the relevant information, phone ambulance control on their behalf and fetch and carry things for them.

"Tiny things like that can make a big difference to the patient and to the ambulance crew themselves."

Glenn is on-call as a CFR most nights of the week and every other weekend.

"I enjoy every minute of it and get great satisfaction from helping others," he added.

"The day I received the MBE was a very special and proud day in my life - and I feel as if I've received it on behalf of many of my colleagues, both in the armed services and as CFRs."

First Responder officer Tony Rossetti said: "We are delighted at the Welsh Ambulance Service that Glenn has been recognised for his services not only to the armed forces, but for his community work as a CFR.

"He is a very active and respected CFR in Barry and we're proud to have him as a valued member of our team. He is a fine example to his colleagues and to the community as a whole."