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Original box for British Empire Medal awarded to Mr Hugh Richard Jones of Llanberis, in recognition of the key role he played in safeguarding the Gilfach Ddu workshops, protecting machinery and objects, and establishing the National Slate Museum. The B.E.M. was awarded in January 1982.

Red box with ‘British Empire Medal’ inscription printed on lid, and black Royal Mint coat of arms on inside of lid. Box is hinged.

Mr Hugh Richard Jones (known as Hugh Rich) started working at Dinorwig Quarry in April 1926 (aged 15) as an apprentice fitter. He was later promoted to Chief Engineer of Dinorwig Quarry and held that position until the quarry closed in August 1969. Following the closure, the quarry and workshops were handed over to administrators, and three large auctions were arranged to sell all the company's assets. Eight men were asked to stay on – some to sell the remaining slate stock, others to start preparing for the auction of the assets. Hugh Richard Jones was one of the eight.

When discussing the preparation for the auction in an interview for Amgueddfa Cymru’s oral history archive, Hugh Richard Jones says:- “The thing that struck me most was when they came to the Museum and put these Lot Numbers on the machines and so on and so forth - that broke my heart completely, having been working with them all my life ”.

What frightened Hugh Richard Jones in particularly, and prompted him to do something, was hearing that they intended to dismantle the water wheel for scrap metal. Hugh Richard Jones managed to stop this, and the Auctioneer and Receiver closed the Gilfach Ddu building. According to Hugh Richard Jones the idea of establishing a museum came to him. A busy time followed of negotiations and correspondance between enthusiastic individuals, national establishments, the county council, and the Welsh Office. It was decided that Caernarfon County Council was to buy the Gilfach Ddu building, the Department for the Environment was to look after it and the National Museum develop it as a museum.

Hugh Richard Jones was appointed as the first Curator of the National Slate Museum, and he worked there until his retirement in March 1981. For 55 years he was an integral part of the history of Dinorwig Quarry and then the National Slate Museum.

A British Empire Medal is awarded for the achievement or contribution of a very “hands-on” service to the community in a local geographical area. This might take the form of sustained commitment in support of very local charitable and/or voluntary activity; or innovative work that has delivered real impact but that is relatively short (three to four years) in duration (Orders and Medals - UK Honours System (cabinetoffice.gov.uk)).