Head of Coleg Cambria received his OBE at Buckingham Palace today

David Jones, Principal and Chief Executive of Coleg Cambria, was at Buckingham Palace today to receive his OBE from the Prince of Wales for services to Further Education in North East Wales.

[pullquote cite=”David Jones OBE” type=”left, right”]It was one of those rare moments in a lifetime that my family and myself will always remember.”[/pullquote]

David was appointed Principal and Chief Executive in August 2013 when Coleg Cambria was formed from the previous Deeside and Yale Colleges, and became one of the largest educational institutions in Wales providing courses for over 25,000 learners.

He started his career in electronic engineering before moving to the education sector in 1987, when he was appointed as a Senior Lecturer in Electronics at the University of Wales Institute Cardiff.

He is also a member of the Flintshire & Wrexham Local Service Boards, the North Wales Economic Ambition Board, the CBI Wales Council, a board member of the Qualifications Wales Advisory Board and Chair of the Deeside Enterprise Zone.

Speaking after the ceremony David said;

“The day was a wonderful and extraordinary experience – the spectacle of Buckingham Palace, the privilege of meeting some exceptional people at the ceremony, and the honour of receiving an OBE from Prince Charles

“This honour really is one for everyone associated with Coleg Cambria and its predecessor colleges. I’m a Cardiganshire man, but now firmly based in North East Wales, where I’ve had the pleasure of working with some truly talented, committed, innovative and inspirational colleagues, governors and students over the past 15 years – I thank them all, and my family for all their support and kindness. I feel so proud to have achieved this recognition and I just wish my mother was alive today to share the moment”.

Congratulating David on behalf of the Governors and staff at the college, John Clutton, Chair of the Governing Board said:

“I wish to extend our heartfelt congratulations to David on receiving his OBE today. This is a well-deserved and overdue award given his significant contribution to the FE sector and to the economy in the region”.