A FORMER High Sheriff and Army Benevolent Fund champion has been recognised in the Queen’s Birthday honours list.

Andrew Tuggey DL CBE was recognised for his services to the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association and the community in south-east Wales.

He was appointed High Sheriff in April, 2015 and recently handed over to Anthony Clay DL at a service in Usk.

Lt Col Tuggey, a former soldier who commanded the Royal Monmouthshire Royal Engineers, (RMonRE(M) works as chief executive and secretary of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association.

He said he was delighted to have been awarded the CBE in the Queens’ Birthday Honours List, that the list coincides with Her Majesty’s 90th birthday “makes it that bit extra special”.

He added:?“It was a big surprise when I received the notification over six weeks ago. The letter had arrived at home at Craig-y-Dorth. My wife, Clare opened it and telephoned me in the office to tell me to look at my emails. I was off to a meeting, said that I would look later and was told firmly to ‘look now’. I and my family, and the team at Westminster are hugely excited. It is very much an honour to be shared with the team at Parliament, with those with whom I work in Gwent – and of course with Clare and the family. It is their hard work, dedication and support that have been instrumental in me being awarded the CBE. I look forward to continuing to work in the Commonwealth and with the communities, young people and the disadvantaged in Gwent.”    

Born, brought up and educated in Reading, he attended RMA Sandhurst and was commissioned into the Royal Engineers, serving with the Gurkhas for over six years and six years on operations in Northern Ireland. He commanded the RMonRE(M) in 1990 and settled in Monmouth. Andrew served with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in Eastern Europe as those countries were joining NATO and the EU, retiring from the Army in 2003. He was appointed chief executive and secretary to the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association UK at Westminster in 2004 delivering parliamentary programmes across the Commonwealth and beyond.

He was Deputy Lieutenant of Gwent in 2006; High Sheriff 2015; Vice Lord-Lieutenant 2016; Chair of the ABF The Soldiers’ Charity Gwent; President RE Association Monmouth; Chair Gwent High Sheriffs’ Community Fund Panel and Vice-President Gwent Area Scouts amongst others.