A Royal Marine turned South West Water engineer has been honoured after being personally invited to attend a prestigious garden party at Buckingham Palace in recognition of his outstanding support to the Armed Forces community.
Gareth Morgan, 42 from Exmouth, is an Engineering Portfolio Manager for the water company and was invited to the party by King Charles III and the military charity The Not Forgotten.
The event brought together individuals who are supporting veterans and service personnel through community and meaningful opportunities.
As a former Royal Marine, Gareth continues his commitment to service by mentoring new recruits on top of his role delivering major engineering projects across the South West region.
Reflecting on the honour, Gareth said: “From serving as a Royal Marine to now delivering projects with South West Water, I’ve always believed in service, commitment, and doing things the right way.
To receive an invitation from His Royal Highness to Buckingham Palace was something truly special – an overwhelming sense of pride, gratitude, and humility. It’s a moment that makes you pause, reflect on the journey, and feel incredibly honoured to be recognised in such a way.”
Gareth’s dedication reflects South West Water’s long-standing pledge to the Armed Forces community.
Last year the water company was awarded the Ministry of Defence’s Armed Forces Covenant Silver Award under the Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) in recognition of its exceptional commitment to supporting veterans, reservists, cadet force adult volunteers, and military families in the workplace.
The ERS honours UK organisations that actively champion the Armed Forces community. The Silver Award is given to employers who go above and beyond their Armed Forces Covenant commitments by embedding inclusive policies, promoting defence values, and advocating for service personnel across their teams.
Speaking about Gareth’s achievement, Derek Folds, Process Safety Manager and Royal Navy veteran who was instrumental in leading the Armed Forces Covenant initiative at South West Water, said: “Gareth’s recognition at Buckingham Palace highlights how a veteran's deeply ingrained values of service can elevate an entire organisation.
By actively mentoring new recruits and dedicating his personal time to supporting fellow veterans, Gareth proves that a veteran's leadership doesn't end when they take off the uniform—it directly enriches the workplace, helping companies like South West Water build inclusive, highly motivated teams.”