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This year’s winners of the prestigious St David Awards have been announced at a glittering event at the Senedd in Cardiff Bay.

The awards, now in their second year, acknowledge the extraordinary achievements of people in Wales and were created to recognise the great deeds and contributions made by people from all walks of life.

Following a rigorous expert judging process chaired by Lord Rowe Beddoe the winners in each of the award categories have tonight been announced. The Winners are as follows:

Bravery

Derek Pusey, Leonard Walters and Clive Williams, Cardigan RNLI.

Helmsmen Pusey and Walters and Volunteer Crewman Williams won the award for their roles in a dramatic night-time rescue near Tresaith in Ceredigion in September 2013. They risked their lives to save two people stranded on a ledge amongst steep rocks on the West Wales coast. The men were cut off by the tide and in danger of being swept out to sea from the base of a cliff on the beach at Tresaith. They were rescued by the RNLI team and returned to shore.

Innovation and Technology

Peter Brewin and William Crawford, Concrete Canvas, Pontypridd.

Peter Brewin and William Crawford won the award for their work in developing and expanding the uses for their revolutionary building material. Concrete Canvas is a flexible concrete impregnated fabric that hardens on hydration to form a thin, durable waterproof and fire-resistant concrete layer.

Established in 2005 the company’s products are exported to more than 40 countries and were Wales’ only winner of the Queen’s Award for Enterprise in Innovation in 2014.

Sport

Geraint Thomas MBE, professional cyclist.

An elite sportsperson, 2014 was a great year for Cardiff cyclist Geraint Thomas after winning a gold medal in the road race at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, being given the honour of carrying the Welsh flag at the closing ceremony and winning the BBC Wales Sports Personality title.

Geraint is also a double Olympic Gold Medallist, winning medals as part of the GB Cycling Team Pursuit team at the games in Beijing in 2008 and London in 2012, where the team set a new world record.

International

Michael Sheen OBE.

Actor Michael Sheen has won the award for his remarkable achievements both in Wales and further afield as an actor and a humanitarian. He is a patron of a number of Welsh charities such as TREAT Trust Wales, the Dylan Thomas Prize and Keep Wales Tidy. He is also an ambassador for Unicef.

Young Person

Richard Davies, engineer and inventor from Bausley, Powys.

Richard has won the award for inventing and designing a reversing camera for agricultural use. He designed a camera to help his father reverse large vehicles on his farm. The device is a completely wireless camera which works in conjunction with any smart device; it’s designed to help people manoeuvre caravans and trailers whilst reversing.

Culture

Siân Phillips CBE.

Siân Phillips is a renowned Welsh actress from Gwaun-Cae-Gurwen in South West Wales. She has won the BAFTA Television Award for Best Actress and has been nominated for both Olivier and Tony Awards. She is currently starring in ‘Playing for Time’ at Sheffield’s Crucible Theatre.

Enterprise

Mario Kreft MBE from Pendine Park Care Organisation, Wrexham.

Mario Kreft won the award for setting up and developing the Pendine Park Care Organisation in Wrexham. The organisation places a great emphasis on the happiness and well-being of their residents and the company has gone from strength to strength over the past 30 years. It now employs more than 600 people in 7 care homes, a domiciliary care company, Independent Living and their in-house Teaching Care Centre. Mario is also the Chair of Care Forum Wales (CFW) which represents the independent care sector in Wales.

Citizenship

Rhian Burke from bereavement charity ‘2 Wish Upon a Star’, Miskin.

Rhian Burke won the St David Award for her work in establishing bereavement charity ‘2 Wish Upon a Star’. Rhian tragically lost her baby son and her husband within the space of 5 days. The tragedy of experiencing the sudden death of a child was compounded by the situation Rhian and her husband found themselves in at hospital, having nowhere to privately grieve and say goodbye to their son. Motivated by a desire to ensure others would not have the same experience she set up the bereavement charity ‘2 Wish Upon a Star’ which now provides bereavement counselling to grieving families.

First Minister’s Special Award, personally chosen by Carwyn Jones

Newport NATO 2014

Last September the city of Newport hosted the 2014 NATO Summit, the largest gathering of world leaders that the UK has ever seen. Everyone involved, the local community; organisers; police and security services all came together in unity to make the historic event a resounding success, running smoothly and safely. The First Minister’s Special Award is given in recognition of this fantastic achievement.

Receiving the St David Awards on behalf of Newport NATO 2014 were children from Pillgwenlly and Mount Pleasant Primary Schools; Gold Commander, Assistant Chief Constable Chris Armitt, Silver Commander Chief Superintendent Alun Thomas, Ian Edwards, CEO of the Celtic Manor and the leader of Newport City Council, Councillor Bob Bright.

First Minister of Wales Carwyn Jones said:

“I’d like to offer my congratulations to each and every one of the St David Award winners. They are an exceptional group of people who’ve achieved so much with little desire for the recognition they thoroughly deserve. Well done to you all, you’re a credit to Wales and an inspiration to people across Wales.

“It’s not often the eyes of the world are on Wales but that’s exactly what happened in September with the NATO summit. The people of Newport, the organisers and everyone who work tirelessly throughout the Summit did us and Wales as a whole proud. That’s why my Special Award has deservedly gone to Newport NATO 2014.

“Leaders from across the globe, including the first ever serving US President to set foot on Welsh soil saw exactly what we can do as a nation and the city and community of Newport have a lot to do with this. I’m really pleased that children from Pillgwenlly and Mount Pleasant Primary Schools were able to come to receive the award this evening. I’m sure the experience of being part of the NATO Summit will stick in their minds for many years to come, and I’m delighted they were part of this truly historic event.

“A special mention must also go to all of the finalists. I know the judges had a very hard time trying to choose between them and the many remarkable things they achieved. They should all be extremely proud of themselves.

“With this year’s St David Awards fresh in our minds it’s time for people to start thinking about next year’s awards. Do you know someone exceptional, who goes the extra mile, is making a real difference in Wales or even globally? Why not show them how much you appreciate them and all they do and have done. Why not nominate them for a St David Award and help us recognise their achievements.”