A \u201cheroic\u201d former care home owner who built a military-style decontamination unit to keep his residents and staff safe during the Covid pandemic has been given a special award.<\/p>\n
Ex-RAF man Glyn Williams, 63, who ran the Gwyddfor Residential Home in Bodedern in Anglesey, was described as a \u201cfearless and formidable\u201d champion of social care after the virus struck.<\/p>\n
As well using his knowledge of chemical, nuclear and biological warfare to convert the home\u2019s atrium into a decontamination facility, Glyn campaigned tirelessly for politicians to give more financial support to the sector as it battled the deadly disease.<\/p>\n
Now retired, Glyn\u2019s extraordinary efforts were honoured with a Special Recognition Award at the Wales Care Awards – dubbed the Oscars of social care – at a glitzy ceremony in Cardiff hosted by radio and TV presenter Jason Mohammad.<\/p>\n
The award was presented by Mario Kreft MBE, the chair of Care Forum Wales, who said: \u201cThe people working on the frontline during the pandemic put their own lives on the line to keep vulnerable people safe.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere were thousands of Covid warriors who rose magnificently to the unprecedented challenge but Glyn was undoubtedly our Top Gun.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe was a fearless and formidable advocate not only on behalf of his own residents and staff but also for the social care sector as a whole.<\/p>\n
\u201cGlyn was truly heroic and was willing to put his head above the parapet and speak truth to power, doing so with great eloquence and moral authority.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are grateful to the Welsh Government for the financial support they gave the sector which was far greater than that received by our counterparts in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland.<\/p>\n
\u201cGlyn undoubtedly played his part in persuading the powers that be that the sector needed that support to remain financially afloat and protect the vulnerable people for whom we provide care.\u201d<\/p>\n
Humble Glyn said he had no idea he was to receive an award at the ceremony, and said the \u201creal heroes were the ones that didn\u2019t make it through the pandemic\u201d.<\/p>\n
Glyn spent 25 years in the RAF where he trained as an\u00a0 electronics engineer and he also has a commercial pilot\u2019s licence.<\/p>\n
After he left the RAF in 2004 he his wife Mary bought Gwyddfor and his military training meant he was more than aware of the looming threat of the Covid outbreak.<\/p>\n
He said: \u201cThe award came as a heck of a shock, I had no idea but I am incredibly grateful to receive the award.<\/p>\n
\u201cTo be honest I don\u2019t really deserve it any more than any of the other fantastic social care workers.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor many years I have also had the privilege of judging for the care awards.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is amazing to hear these people\u2019s stories and how they go above and beyond.<\/p>\n
\u201cThose people who get through to the awards absolutely deserve it.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd of course, the real heroes were the ones that didn\u2019t make it through the pandemic as far as I am concerned, especially during the early days.<\/p>\n
\u201cAll of the care homes across Wales were in touch with each other and we were<\/p>\n
\u201cHere at Gwyddfor we built a decontamination tank and made sure everything was sterilised before it came into the building.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe were thinking how could we stop the virus coming into the building and so we made sure everything was decontaminated and clean.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe set up a tent outside, we had a \u2018red area\u2019, we sterilised everything that came in.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe took the atrium and divided it up into two and had an amber area and a green area.<\/p>\n
\u201cStaff were getting changed into uniforms which were laundered on the premises, and so we were just keeping everything spotlessly clean.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat all worked out well. We went 18 months before we finally relaxed our procedures.\u201d<\/p>\n
Glyn added: \u201cOne of the biggest problems we had in the early days\u00a0 was the dire shortage of PPE allied to the fact we didn\u2019t have adequate funds.<\/p>\n
\u201cI suppose I was a little bit too outspoken at times but somebody had to tell it as it was, and fortunately it helped.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd I am convinced now that if it hadn\u2019t been for the media we wouldn\u2019t have got anywhere.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe whole sector did an absolutely amazing job the way they looked after their residents and their staff.\u201d<\/p>\n
Glyn and Mary have recently sold the care home to new owners after owning it for 20 years and are helping the new owners bed in.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere will be mixed emotions when we finally step away because we put so much into the home, but we know it is in good hands,\u201d said Glyn.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve grown it from 16 beds to 28 beds. We have put our heart and soul into the home, it\u2019s a very special place.\u201d<\/p>\n