LYDNEY para-triathlete champion Andy Lewis met HRH Prince Charles last Tuesday (February 27), when he went to Buckingham Palace to collect his MBE.

Andy, who took gold at the Rio-Paralympics last year, said: “During my time at Buckingham Palace today, standing in front of our future king, I felt so honoured and privileged to have represented my country at the highest level. 

“I have so many people to thank, as, ultimately, something like this cannot be achieved without a team around you, so to my family, friends, team mates and coaches, thank you.”

Andy is far from resting on his laurels, however. He’s currently training in Lanzarote and is planning activities to support ArcticONE, a charity helping children with disabilities to get into sport.

Andy added: “Not all sports equipment is available on the NHS and Arctic

ONE helped me at the very beginning. They are a small charity with a big heart. If you have fundraising ideas and want to help, I would love to help promote you and your efforts in return. Let’s give something back to these kids.”

Find out more about the charity’s work at www.arctic1.co.uk