This year's recipient of the coveted long service award is William Griffiths James, of Llys Teifi, 7 Morgan Street, Cardigan, who has worked for 43 years for someone with a long association with the County Show - Brian Llewellyn of Penfro, Eglwyswrw.

Mr James, a farmer's son from Brynberian, who started his working life on his father's farm at Castell, took an apprenticeship with Ifan owen of Rhoshill, learning his trade as a welder working on agricultural machinery. After two years National Service in the army, almost the whole of it spent in Minden, Germany, following initial training at Brecon, with the South Wales Borderers, he joined the Llewellyn business in 1961, and is still working there, although he could have retired last year.

A fit and active 65-year-old, he has been swimming regularly at Cardigan pool and during the last four years has taken up cycling at the weekend.

"I could have retired, but my health is good so I will keep going for a few years yet," said Mr James, who is married to Elvira and has one grown-up daughter, Meinir.

"When I started at Penfro, it was mainly trailers, gates and other welding jobs, but now it is mostly quad bikes and mowers." He says he has always been fit and used to walk three miles to school at Llwynhirion. But he doesn't fancy cycling the seven miles to work, because a large part of the journey is uphill.