Exmouth veteran invited to Buckingham Palace for supporting military community
An Exmouth veteran and South West Water engineer has been honoured with a royal invitation to a Buckingham Palace garden party.
A former Royal Marine from Devon has been honoured with an invitation to a Buckingham Palace garden party in recognition of his work supporting veterans.
Gareth Morgan, 42, from Exmouth, attended the prestigious event after being nominated by the military charity The Not Forgotten and King Charles III.
Mr Morgan, who now works as an engineering portfolio manager for South West Water, was recognised for mentoring new recruits and supporting fellow service personnel.
He said the invitation left him with an "overwhelming sense of pride, gratitude, and humility."
The event at Buckingham Palace brought together individuals from across the UK who provide community support and opportunities for veterans and active service personnel.
The annual event, hosted on behalf of the King by Princess Anne, brought together thousands of military beneficiaries on the palace lawns.
Alongside his day job delivering major engineering projects across the region, Mr Morgan dedicates his personal time to mentoring new Royal Marine recruits.
Reflecting on the royal invitation, he 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 Majesty to Buckingham Palace was something truly special. It’s a moment that makes you pause, reflect on the journey, and feel incredibly honoured."
The Exeter-based utility company South West Water was recently awarded the Ministry of Defence’s Armed Forces Covenant Silver Award for its commitment to supporting veterans, reservists, and military families.
The government-backed Employer Recognition Scheme honours UK organisations that actively champion the defence community by embedding inclusive workplace policies.
Derek Folds, a fellow Royal Navy veteran and process safety manager at the company, said Mr Morgan's recognition highlighted how military values benefit the wider workforce.
"Gareth proves that a veteran's leadership doesn't end when they take off the uniform," Mr Folds said. "It directly enriches the workplace, helping companies build inclusive, highly motivated teams."