Dr Carl Clowes, founder of the National Language and Heritage centre Nant Gwrtheyrn, has been awarded an honorary fellowship of the Royal College of General Practitioners. He is the first recipient of the award on the basis of work in addition to his work as a GP. Dr Carl Clowes receives the honour for his contribution to his field of expertise of ‘public health’ along with his outstanding contribution to the field of health in Lesotho.
He was the Founder Chair of Dolen Cymru, the special country to country link between Wales and Lesotho established in 1985. Now the organisation`s Life President and Honorary Consul for the Kingdom of Lesotho in Wales. Since 1985, the work of Dolen Cymru has changed the lives of communities, schools, health organizations and individuals in Lesotho by development of mental health training, medical students work experiences and the development of a HIV / AIDS program.
He founded Ymddiriedolaeth Nant Gwrtheyrn (Trust) in 1978 when he was a medical practitioner in the Bro`r Eifl area. He was Chairman during the formative period and now President of the trust.
In 2009, he received Lesotho’s highest civilian honor and became a Member of the Most Loyal Order of Ramatseatsana. A member of the Gorsedd of Bards of the National Eisteddfod of Wales when he was made a member of the Druidic Order for services “locally, nationally and internationally”. He retains an interest in his medical speciality, namely `public health` and has been honoured as a Fellow in Public Health of the Royal College of Physicians. He is currently a Board member of Public Health Wales.
Speaking of his Honorary Fellowship, Carl said: “It is a great honour to be recognised in this way by the RCGP. My personal passion has always been empowering communities, which, in turn, empowers people. With empowerment comes confidence and a reduced reliance on a lifestyle likely to be damaging to health.”