The outgoing principal of Harper Adams left town on Wednesday for a special ceremony at Buckingham Palace, where he picked up an OBE.
Professor Wynn Jones was honoured at a palace ceremony presided over by Princess Anne.
Since taking over in 1996, he became the college’s first professor in its 96-year history.
Brought up on a dairy farm in North Wales, Prof Jones, aged 59, said he was honoured to receive the prestigious award from Princess Anne.
“It was excellent. It was quite nice for me to be presented with it by Princess Anne because she is an Honorary Fellow of Harper Adams, so she had more than a passing interest in it,” said Prof Jones.
On being pinned with the award, each recipient had only 40 seconds with the Royals, but Prof Jones said they managed a good conversation.
“She was very pleasant and she asked me how things were going and how the staff and students were.
“We agreed that things like food and security were important issues, and the agenda with climate change and sustainability.
“It was also lovely to meet the other people there who were getting their awards.
“They all had some very interesting stories to tell,” he added.
A graduate of the University College of North Wales, Bangor, Prof Jones was awarded his PhD by Reading University for genetic studies into dairy cattle breeding.
But in September his reign will come to an end when he retires from Harper Adams.
Prof Jones added he would be sad to be leaving the university.
He said: “It is a mixed feeling really.
“It’s a tremendous community of staff and students, but we are in a very successful period so the time for change is appropriate, and I wish my successor all the very best.”
His successor is 48-year-old Dr David Llewellyn, who has been working at the university college for 11 years. He will start the post in September.
By Jason Lavan
