THE legacy of a former Welsh Woman Farmer of the Year 2014 will live on after her death.

Eleri Lloyd farmed at Ffynnonlwyd, Llangynin, with her husband, Haydn, and sons, Rhodri and Llyr, where the family also runs Allpump Services. Eleri was just 50 when she died of cancer last month.

After she was first diagnosed with cancer, she organised a series of fund raising events in support of the medical units involved in her treatment - the Breast Cancer Unit at Prince Philip Hospital, the chemotherapy unit at Glangwili Hospital, and the radium department at Singleton Hospital.

Last year she was named NFU Cymru/Principality Building Society Wales Woman Farmer of the Year.

Sadly Eleri’s cancer returned and her funeral took place a year to the day when she was presented with this prestigious award at the Royal Welsh Show.

But her legacy lives on. Donations in her memory can be made to the 'Eleri Lloyd - Charity Account' and sent to the funeral director, Hywel Thomas, at Brynderwen, Llanboidy, Whitland, SA34 0ED.

Eleri, a club leader with St Clears YFC, was often invited to talk to organisations and in the notes she prepared for those presentations she admitted that life could be full of challenges. “You fall a few times and have to get back on,’’ she wrote. “Be positive and remember "health is your wealth. If anyone wish to make a contribution to my charities, I would be very grateful and thank you.’’

Stephen James, NFU Cymru President, described Eleri as an excellent ambassador for the role of women in agriculture. “We were delighted that we were able to recognise her achievements with the award last year. Our thoughts are with Haydn and their children at this sad and difficult time,’’ he said.

Eleri was born and brought up at Ffynnonlwyd where her parents and grandparents had farmed for the past 70 years.

She grew up with her sister, Undeg, attended local schools and went on to study at Pibwrlwyd, Carmarthen, before working in local government.

As well as her job as her job at Pembrokeshire County Council she had worked long hours to grow the dairying business and helped her mother with her bed and breakfast business.

When the opportunity came along Eleri and her husband, Haydn, put all their savings into buying the goodwill of an engineering business which they built up into a thriving company which now employs 10 people.