Dr Robert Havard Davies, BEM

In the year Dr Robert Davies started working as a paediatric consultant, West Germany won the World Cup, US President Richard Nixon was embroiled in the Watergate scandal and Edward Heath was replaced as Prime Minister by Harold Wilson.

A gallon of petrol cost 50p, a pint of milk 4.5p and a pint of beer 22.5p. How times have changed since 1974.

However, one constant over the intervening 50 years has been Robert, who started out as a paediatric consultant in North Wales.

His commitment to making sure young people in North Wales are looked after even extended beyond retirement, when he decided to come back as locum consultant operating a medication review clinic for children with severe ADHD and autism.

It is for his services to the NHS, across half a century, he receives his British Empire Medal.

On receiving his award, Robert said: “I’m surprised. That just about encapsulates it.”

Robert, aged 82, started his career at the now demolished St David’s Hospital in Bangor and up until 1995 worked in the special care baby unit.

He then moved into community paediatrics but continued to do general on-call paediatrics at Ysbyty Gwynedd on weekends.

Robert’s father was a consultant psychiatrist and one of his sons is a consultant paediatrician at the University Hospital of Wales In Cardiff.

Asked why he kept on working, Robert said: “I enjoy my work, seeing patients, seeing their families with the patients.

“I like the technical challenge and, of course, helping them.”