Royal recognition
Four people were awarded the Lord-Lieutenant’s Certificate of Merit by Mrs Morfudd Meredith, the Lord-Lieutenant of South Glamorgan, at a ceremony on HMS CAMBRIA in Cardiff Bay on 19 February 2026 for outstanding service and devotion to duty. The recipients were Lieutenant Rhys Thomas (HMS CAMBRIA), Fraser Ingram and Abigail Gibbins (Cardiff Sea Cadet Corps), and Squadron Leader Rhys-Thomas Challenger (No 3 Welsh Wing RAF Air Cadets), with the Lord-Lieutenant’s cadets also recognized during the evening. New Lord-Lieutenant cadets Petty Officer Cadet Nathan (Penarth Sea Cadet Corps), Leading Cadet Dylan (Cardiff Sea Cadet Corps) and Cadet Warrant Officer Naina Luchman (1344 Cardiff Squadron, No 1 Welsh Wing RAF Air Cadets) were selected after nominations by cadet group leaders and the RFCA for Wales and will serve until September, attending engagements with the Lord-Lieutenant that include Remembrance events, Royal visits and parades. The event, organized by the Reserve Forces’ and Cadets’ Association for Wales, highlighted the scale of Welsh cadet activity, with about 4,500 cadets and 1,850 volunteer instructors and nearly 80 attendees.
Four people have been awarded the Lord-Lieutenant’s Certificate of Merit by His Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of South Glamorgan Mrs Morfudd Meredith.
The four were Lieutenant Rhys Thomas of HMS CAMBRIA, Mr Fraser Ingram of Cardiff Sea Cadet Corps, Mrs Abigail Gibbins of Cardiff Sea Cadet Corps and Squadron Leader Rhys-Thomas Challenger of No 3 Welsh Wing RAF Air Cadets.
They were presented with their award in recognition of their outstanding service and devotion to duty, at the Lord-Lieutenant’s award ceremony held at HMS CAMBRIA in Cardiff Bay on Thursday, 19 February 2026.
The achievements of the Lord-Lieutenant’s three cadets were also recognised and celebrated during the awards evening.
Petty Officer Cadet Nathan of Penarth Sea Cadet Corps, Leading Cadet Dylan of Cardiff Sea Cadet Corps and Cadet Warrant Officer Naina Luchman of 1344 (Cardiff) Squadron, No 1 Welsh Wing RAF Air Cadets were selected for the prestigious Lord-Lieutenant’s cadet role after being put forward for nomination by cadet group leaders and the Reserve Forces’ and Cadets’ Association for Wales.
The role of Lord-Lieutenant cadet, which continues until September, includes attendance with the Lord-Lieutenant, who acts as the King’s representative, at a number of official engagements, including Remembrance events, Royal visits and parades.
They have followed in the footsteps of last year’s cadets including former Cadet Warrant Officer Ashton Marchant who is now an adult volunteer with No 3 Welsh Wing RAF Air Cadets. Sergeant Marchant outlined his cadet journey to the audience.
There are nearly 4,500 cadets in Wales who gain skills and qualifications through working with local communities, charities and taking part in a variety of practical activities. The cadet syllabus is delivered by 1,850 volunteering adult instructors and civilian assistants, who give up their spare time on weeknights and weekends.
The awards ceremony, attended by nearly 80 people, was organised by the Reserve Forces’ and Cadets’ Association for Wales – an organisation that has supported the Armed Forces for over 100 years.
