A 20-YEAR-old woman recognised in the Queen's Birthday Honours has been presented with her British Empire Medal (BEM) - at home.
Bethan Owen, of Bodelwyddan, was acknowledged in June 2022 for her services to karate and to the community in Denbighshire. This was prior to the death of the queen.
The kind-hearted karate instructor and young carer, who has won a string of awards, was presented with the BEM by the Lord-Lieutenant (His Majesty's local representative).
Bethan, who works at Richmond House in Rhyl, who specialise in dementia care, said of the award: "My reaction [to being recognised] was very emotional but happy with myself with what I’ve achieved and the recognition I got.
"I had a letter through the post to inform me what I had achieved and then an email to ask how I would like to be presented with it.
"My mum [Julie] and my partner [Lukasz] surprised me and invited some of my work colleagues to watch me get presented with this award.
"The lord lieutenant presented me with the award, and I had my taid, mum, Lukasz, my partner's dad Pawel, my best friend Shannon, my manager Amanda, my boss Becky and Cathy, care staff co-ordinator, watching and supporting me.
"We then went outside and took plenty of pictures and then we had tea and cakes.
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"The lord lieutenant presented the BEM to me," Bethan added.
"It took about 30 minutes. A bit of a background about the award and myself was given and then he presented me with the award.
"The experience was surreal; I felt a lot of emotions if I’m being honest. I was very emotional because I knew my dad would have loved it."
Bethan lost her dad Garry in January 2022. Garry was always supporting Bethan and often wrote to the Journal celebrating her achievements.
Bethan has achieved so much from a young age. The former Rhyl College student and founder of a not-for-profit karate club in Rhyl has been helping to take care of her mum, who has epilepsy, since she was a child.
At aged seven, she started learning karate by way of a distraction and by 12, she was a black belt and qualified karate instructor.
Bethan will attend a Royal Garden Party later this year.
"I'm extremely excited and nervous for the garden party," Bethan added.
"It will be me and my mum going to it.
"I want to thank everyone that came and supported me last Tuesday. I felt extremely loved."
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