LATCH would like to congratulate two members of our LATCH community, who have been recognised in the King’s Birthday Honours List 2025. 

Professor Meriel Jenney, current LATCH President, has been awarded a CBE for services to cancer treatment and to research in children and young people.  Professor Jenney, retired Executive Medical Director of Cardiff and Vale University Health Board, was appointed as the charity’s new President in January 2025.

Sandra Owen, Director of Sandville Self Help Centre, Porthcawl , was a Trustee of LATCH from 2019 to 2023 and a Founder of the LATCH Emyr Owen Branch, has been awarded a BEM for services to charity.

National Honours are given to recipients for outstanding service and achievement in a given field or area.

Susan Gwyer-Roberts DL, Chair of LATCH said: “On behalf of the trustees and the Latch community , we are delighted to extend our congratulations to both Meriel and Sandra for their recognition in the King ‘s Birthday Honours list 2025.”

Professor Jenney has a long-established connection with LATCH through her work as a Consultant in Paediatric Oncology at the Children’s Hospital for Wales since 1996. Professor Jenney led the children’s cancer services in Wales for over two decades and she also has a longstanding research interest in clinical trials in childhood sarcomas and the development of measures to assess the quality of life of children who have received treatment for cancer in childhood.

The LATCH Emyr Owen Branch, Porthcawl, was founded and run by Sandra Owen, her husband Kevin and son Huw in 2009, in memory of their late son Emyr. Over the period of 15 years, from 2009 to 2024, the Branch, with the support of their local community, made an outstanding contribution to LATCH including raising over £500,000, purchasing two holiday caravans, EmyrKaravans4theKidz, for children with cancer and their families, and raising vital awareness of how to support children with cancer.