Publican Awards 2013: Prince Charles congratulates Pub is the Hub chief John Longden after award

15-Mar-2013 - Last updated on 20-Mar-2013 at 08:42 GMT

John Longden with awards host Rob Brydon (left) and the PMA's executive director Tim Brooke-Webb

Prince Charles has penned a special message of congratulations to Pub is the Hub chief executive John Longden after his recognition at the Publican Awards.

John Longden picked up the Outstanding Industry Achievement award for his decade of work at the helm of Pub is the Hub, the not-for-profit organisation dedicated to offering advice and support to licensees, rural pubs and community services.

HRH the Prince of Wales established Pub is the Hub in 2001, which now operates across seven regions across in England and Wales.

In his message, which was read out to guests at the Grosvenor House Hotel awards ceremony, Prince Charles states: "Who would have thought that from such humble beginnings the initiative would grow into quite such a substantial, national voluntary movement.

"Without doubt this success is down to the efforts of John Longden. His personal passion for preserving pubs as hubs of rural life is obvious every time you meet him."

The Prince goes on to praise Longden's ability to motivate volunteers and "tireless dedication".

"All I can say is that John's award is richly deserved and I particularly wanted to send him my warmest congratulations on such a special occasion," the message ends.

Last year Pub is the Hub launched a new fund to help pubs diversify their business. Drinks company Diageo kick-started the new fund with a £50,000 donation, immediately matched by the government, with a further £100,000 pledged by the communities department in the future.