Keith, who received his award from actor Brian Blessed, told Pet Trade Xtra: "I'm surprised and delighted to get this award which was very unexpected."

He became OATA’s first member of staff in 1991. Prior to his appointment with OATA he set up the aquatics courses at Sparsholt College where he was a lecturer for seven years

Keith spent over three years in fish farming and a similar period in research, all of which followed training as a Marine Biologist at Bangor.

Outside of work he walks, cycles, gardens, takes an interest in a wide variety of sports, and has even been known to cook, including baking cakes to take to meetings.