A GWENT family has received an award on behalf of a relative who donated his organs, at the Welsh Awards Ceremony in the Millennium Stadium.

Ann Medlicott, 74, of Ashvale, Tredegar, received the award on behalf of her husband, Desmond, 77, from Wales rugby star Sam Warburton on Monday October 20.

Also collecting the award on behalf of Mr Medlicott, who died of a brain haemorrhage in 2013, were his nephew Leigh, sister-in-law Jayne, and niece Anne.

Mr Medlicott saved the lives of two people and restored the sight of two others after his one kidney, liver, and corneas were donated.

Mr Medlicott decided that he would not opt out of organ donation after watching an organ donation advert on the television months before his death.

Louise Colson, team manager for the South Wales Organ Donation Service, said: “Organ donation is the ultimate act of altruism, acknowledging that act to society and thereby recognising this precious gift this award publicly offers thanks to those donors and their families.”

St John Cymru Wales has worked with NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) since 2012 to recognise the incredible gift that donors and families make by consenting to donate their organs to save the lives of others.

Keith Dunn OBE, chief executive of St John Cymru Wales, said: "The night went extremely well. Everyone was very moved by the occasion and we made a point of making the presentations as informal as possible. Sam Warburton spoke to each of the families and did a great job."

Given in the name of HM the Queen, a specially designed pin and citation were presented to 12 families from across Wales at the ceremony by Warburton and Dan Clayton Jones, the Prior for St John Wales.