More than a dozen people across Shropshire and Mid Wales have dates at Buckingham Palace lined up after being rewarded for their work in the New Year Honours.
Ninety-one-year-old Colin Powell, of Oswestry, a founder member of the Oswestry Talking Newspaper, said he was “highly honoured” to become an MBE.
He has made almost 800 recordings since the talking newspaper was formed more than 25 years ago.
A CBE has gone to Professor David Charles Woods, 66, of Ironbridge. He began his career in education more than 40 years ago and became lead advisor on the Government’s City Challenge programme five years ago.
“It is pleasing to have a lifetime’s work acknowledged,” he said.
The principal of Harper Adams University College in Edgmond, Professor Elphin Wynne Jones, has been made an OBE for his services to agricultural higher education. He has been at the college for 21 years and principal for 13 years. He said: “I’m proud, but even though it is for me personally I would like to think it is a collective honour for all the hard work done and great advances made by everyone at the college.”
Philip Morris-Jones, of Leegomery, Telford, said he was “absolutely amazed” to be made an MBE for more than 40 years’ service to the community. He is a former member of Wrekin District Council and Wellington Town Council, was a founder member of the Telford Lions, has been involved with the Disabled Drivers’ Association and founded the Wellington Partnership in the early 1990s.
An OBE has gone to Marilyn Rydstrom, former director-general of the Telford-based charity the PDSA, for services to animal welfare. She retired from the charity last June, after eight years at the helm.
Sheila Astbury, 78, of Battlefield, Shrewsbury, is made an MBE. She has served the community in Shropshire for 25 years, having retired from full-time nursing in 1988. From 1989 to 1999 she was a voluntary worker at the Shrewsbury care home of the Abbeyfield Society and since 1999 she has been a member of the society’s management board and chairman of the committee of the Shrewsbury house.
Pam Blofield, of Bayston Hill, near Shrewsbury, is also made an MBE for her voluntary community work. She is a long time volunteer for the Rea Valley Group of the Riding for the Disabled Association in Shropshire. An MBE has gone to Margery James, 78, of Oswestry, who has helped to raise more than £310,000 for Macmillan Cancer Support over the last three decades.
Roger Ford, of Bridgnorth, Shropshire’s chief probation officer for 30 years until he retired in 2001, has been made an MBE for his services to young people in the West Midlands.
Special Constable Pam Becke, one of the country’s longest-serving police specials having spent more than 40 years helping keep the streets of Bridgnorth safe, is made an MBE.
The former chief executive officer of the Powys Association of Voluntary Organisations Linda Pepper, of Llanyre, near Llandrindod Wells, has been made an OBE.
Samuel Evans, of Pennal, Machynlleth, has been made an MBE. He was the founding member of the Meirionnydd National Vintage Tractor and Engine Club. Duncan Fisher, of Crickhowell, chief executive of the Fatherhood Institute, has been made an OBE for services to children, while Welshpool farmer Roger Jukes has been honoured for his services to farming and the environment with an MBE.
l Three members of staff at RAF Shawbury also receive awards. Warrant Officers Tony Vaughan and Jane Tarran are to receive meritorious service medals while Stephen# Farmer, a helicopter instructor, is to receive a Commendation of the Air Officer Commanding 22 (Training) Group.
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