A GWENT mum's Argus-backed campaign for every secondary school in the area to be equipped with a defibrillator, helped earn her a British Empire Medal (BEM).

June Thomas, from Oakdale, is among eight people from Gwent to be named as recipients of New Year Honours.

After son Jack died suddenly aged just 15 in February 2012 from a suspected heart problem, June and husband Grant, backed by the Argus, aimed to get a defibrillator into every secondary school in Gwent and the Rhymney Valley, through Jack's Appeal, launched in January 2014.

By April 2015 it had succeeded, having raised more than £32,500. It has since expanded into Merthyr Vale and the Rhondda Valley, and into primary schools.

More than a dozen Gwent primary schools now have a defibrillator thanks to the campaign.

Mrs Thomas, aged 49, called the honour “a bit of a shock.”

“I’m deeply humbled and honoured. It recognises why we, as a family, started doing this," she said.

“Jack is our inspiration and his legacy will be on the hope that, through heart screening and the availability of defibrillators in public places, no-one will have to suffer a Christmas without their loved one.

“We would like to thank our family and friends, Sharon Owen and Welsh Hearts, and Cardiac Risk in the Young and their volunteers.

"We’d also like to say thank you to the South Wales Argus and Aneurin Bevan University Health Board for the support they have given us.”

Abergavenny Festival of Cycling organiser Bill Owen, aged 72, receives an MBE for services to cycling, particularly in Wales.

In December 2014 Mr Owen became the only Welshman to receive the Gold Badge of Honour, one of his sport's highest accolades.

On the board of directors at British Cycling for 13 years, during which he helped bring big races and events to Wales, Mr Owen stepped down in November 2014.

He has also served as chairman and president of Welsh Cycling for more than 20 years, and was on British Cycling's professional racing and executive committees in the 1990s.

He called the honour a “very nice surprise” and added: “I wasn’t expecting it. What I do isn’t just a solo effort, it’s like a team and family effort. This recognises all our efforts.”

For Wendy Warren, head of planning and civil contingencies with Aneurin Bevan University Health Board, an MBE - for services to emergency planning and health protection - is a "privilege."

The 56-year-old, who lives in Usk, has worked in the NHS for more than 26 years, most recently in Gwent,

She was director of nursing and patient and public involvement for the former Gwent Healthcare NHS Trust, prior to her current role with health board, the trust's successor body.

"I'm chuffed someone took the time to nominate me," said Mrs Warren, originally from Birmingham.

Her citation highlights her "significant contribution through a number of senior roles in the NHS", a locally and nationally respected and recognised "drive to improve care and services" and "exemplary" work on preparations for the 2014 NATO Summit in Newport.

She said: "None of this is ever done in isolation though, and I'm very fortunate to work in an organisation with really great people."

She also has roles with the anti-radicalisation programme Prevent and the Nursing and Midwifery Council, and cites her roles in 'look back' Operations Golau and Seren - the former involving a local and national hepatitis C alert, the latter tracing clients of a former Newport tattoo and piercing parlour, following an infection outbreak - as personal highlights.

"They were very public health focused and involved different organisations working together. I'm really proud of those," she said.

Monmouthshire council leader Peter Fox, a county councillor for nearly 20 years, receives an OBE for services to the Cardiff Capital Region.

He said he "nearly fell off my chair" when he received the official letter, and "got up twice during the night to check it was real.

"It’s just that I couldn’t really believe it. I thought it was a hoax, but it came in an official envelope. Then I thought they got the wrong name,” he said.

Councillor Fox, aged 55, of Portskewett, added: “I was very humbled to think that colleagues and people out there thought I was deserving of being recognised, I don't feel I have done anything different from anyone else.

“I’m really excited about the ceremony. Both my parents are still alive and they are so happy. They are going to come along with my wife.

“I could not have done anything without them.”

Former Monmouth GP Dr David Steiner, who runs a charity helping children in Africa, has been awarded an OBE.

Dr Steiner, of Mitchel Troy, set up Hands Around The World with his wife in 1993.

The charity works with partners in countries such as Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda to help children attend school. Around 2,500 children benefit from its work.

“I’m still stunned by the news. For me, this is a team effort," said Dr Steiner, aged 68.

“I could not do it without the team.”

At just 22, Hollie Arnold is a veteran of three Paralympic Games - and her gold medal-winning, world record-setting exploits in the F46 javelin in Rio last summer helped earn her an MBE.

Grimsby-born, but now based in Ystrad Mynach, Miss Arnold is also twice an IPC World Championships gold medallist.

Her MBE is for services to field athletics.

Gwent's other New Year Honours recipients are: Patricia Dodd, of Monmouth, chief methodology officer with the UK Statistics Authority, who receives an MBE for services to statistics and research; and Theresa Thomas, a medical assessment unit staff nurse with Aneurin Bevan University Health Board, who receives a BEM for services to nursing care in Gwent.