The Society congratulates Dr Dwarak Sastry, Consultant Physician in the Care of the Elderly and Parkinson’s Disease, Clinical Director of Medicine, Associate Medical Director and Sub Dean in the College of Medicine and Vice President of Glamorgan County Cricket Club (!) who was recognised in the Queen’s honours with an OBE. This is not Dr Sastry’s first civil honour. In 2002, he was designated Deputy Lieutenant of South Glamorgan.

Born in a small village near Bhadravati, a steel town in South India, Dwarak always wanted to fulfil the aspirations of his father to be a farmer like him. The offer of a place to study medicine was too good an opportunity to be missed, however, especially as his mother was a herbal doctor before she died young. Dwarak qualified in medicine in India and after two years of teaching in a medical college there, he went to Cardiff in 1973. He started as a junior doctor in St David’s Hospital, specialising in care of older people under the guidance of Professor John Pathy. He has been a consultant since 1980 and has run the Parkinson’s clinic since 1985. His wife, Prema, is a specialist in child health in Cardiff. They have two sons, Sanjay who is training to be a heart specialist and Ajay a barrister

On receiving the award, Dwarak says: “I am absolutely delighted with the award. I am grateful to the people of Wales for giving me an opportunity to work here. I receive this award on behalf of my many colleagues who have encouraged and supported me in my work. I dedicate the OBE to my father who is 98 and who believes that hard work and dedication always pays rewards.

My family have been a tower of strength to me in all my achievements.”