Rewards for roles

Four people from Mid Wales have been named in the New Year's honours list - two gaining the OBE and two the MBE.

Former head of Llanfyllin High School Dr David Leighton receives the OBE for services to education.

He retired at the end of the summer term after almost 40 years teaching.

Dr Leighton, who lives near Newtown, had been head at Llanfyllin for 19 years, having previously taught at Newtown High School for 19 years.

Also receiving the OBE is Stephen Hugh Morgan, the chief executive of Autism Cymru. Mr Morgan, who lives in Machynlleth, has been honoured for services to people with autism.

Two women are the proud recipients of the MBE, Mabel Paget, from Chirk, and Eluned Evans, from Carno.

Mrs Paget's award is for services to Chirk Fundraising Committee of Cancer Research UK (Cymru), while Mrs Evans receives her MBE for services to Leukaemia Research and to the community in Carno.

Mrs Paget, 87, who is the last remaining founder member of the Chirk branch of Cancer Research UK and works as the group's secretary, said she was delighted to receive the honour.

"I got involved when the group was formed because they heard about my secretarial skills and to this day I am still enjoying my role in the branch," said Mrs Paget.

"It is a great honour to be recognised for the work I have done with the branch over the years.

"I could not have done any of it without the help of members past and present who were, and are, incredibly dedicated and hard working," she added.

Mrs Paget said since the Chirk committee was inaugurated 43 years ago they had raised almost a quarter of a million pounds, an incredible amount for a small branch.