COMMUNITY stalwarts across Gwent have been applauded for their hard work and dedication in the New Year honours list.

Among well-known figures across the region to be honoured is the chairman of Newport-based St David’s Hospice Malgwyn Davies, who has been awarded an OBE.

Mr Davies, who also served as chief executive of Caerphilly council from 1996 until his retirement in 2006, told the Argus he was “absolutely thrilled” to be recognised.

He is also clerk to the Lord Lieutenant of Gwent, Sir Simon Boyle, having served in that position for 19 years and has been chairman of St David’s Hospice for five years. He began volunteering for the charity when he retired and started by driving people to hospital before being appointed to the hospice’s board two years later.

Monmouth-based Dr Jenny Harries, Public Health England’s national director for the south of England, has also been awarded an OBE for her role in leading the screening programme stopping the Ebola outbreak from spreading into the UK.

The 57-year-old mother of four said: “I found out about a month ago.

“It was a total surprise.

“It’s funny because it came in an envelope from the Cabinet Office.

“As I’d been working with the Cabinet I assume it was just something to do with work.”

A familiar face in the pages of the Argus, president of Newport County AFC, retired teacher and former Newport councillor David Hando has been awarded a British Empire Medal (BEM) for services to the city’s community and his beloved football club.

Mr Hando said: “When my illustrious uncle, Fred J. Hando, was awarded the MBE for services to education and to Gwent, he received a letter from Norfolk.

“It read: ‘Dear Mr Fred J. Hando, I read in the Times that you had received an MBE. Congratulations, but are you sure that it was awarded to the right Fred J. Hando? Yours sincerely, Fred J. Hando, Norfolk.’

“It turned out that they were unknown cousins and the two families got on splendidly.

“It leads me to think that perhaps there is another David Hando more deserving of the honour than I am.

“What is certain is that anything I have achieved in the community, in education, politics, public service or football, has been as a member of teams of colleagues. I gratefully share this honour with them.

“It comes as a bit of a shock actually.”

Chairwoman of the Llanhilleth Miners’ Institute and custodian of its war memorial for 28 years Pam Hopkins has also been awarded a British Empire Medal.

She told the Argus: “I am half thinking this is not right. It’s very strange, very humbling because I don’t know where it’s come from. I have worked in my community since I was about 14.

“It’s my life. It’s something I feel quite strongly about, that if you’re fit and able and you have a gift of any sort – mine seems to be that I can organise – it’s what you do.”

She formerly worked as a photographer and co-ran Brynithel Builders Merchants with her husband until 2009.

The Reverend Viv Nicholls of the Zion Miners Chapel in Llanhilleth said she nominated Mrs Hopkins for the award along with other parishioners and Mrs Hopkins’ daughter Sarah Mayne about 18 months ago.

She said of Mrs Hopkins: “She has done so much community work for so many years. If there’s a need she’s there.”

Amanda Jolliffe, who has volunteered with St John Ambulance for 30 years, has also been awarded a British Empire Medal for her tireless work helping others learn vital first aid skills.

The 43-year-old from Pontypool said: “I’m thrilled to bits, very surprised and very honoured.

“I did not expect it at all.

“I haven’t told anybody. Even my husband and children don’t know.”

Bryony Jordan, who worked as an occupational therapist for children in the Aneurin Bevan University Health Board for 28 years until retiring last year, will receive an MBE.

The 60-year-old said of her award: “It’s just amazing, I am quite humbled by it.

“I had an idea [she was going to be nominated] but I didn’t know it was going to go this far.

“I loved working with children and families and I know it’s a bit of a cliché but it was very humbling. If I could help them a little bit that was a thrilling experience.”

Nelson greengrocer Robert Brain has raised about £400,000 for charities since 1996 – but he said he did not set out to do his challenges for the commendation of an MBE.

He told the Argus: “I don’t do it for that. I do it for people who deserve a lot more than myself. I’m really honoured by it.”

He was told that he was nominated for an award at the end of November but said he had still be awaiting confirmation he was to be given the gong – until he was phoned by the Argus.

He started raising funds for charities when he started running after being made redundant as a miner in 1991.

Since then he has also climbed four mountains around the world - Kilimanjaro, Mount Elbrus, Machu Picchu and Cerro Acon Cagua – and has raised money for Macmillan, Ty Hafan, Whizz Kids, Dreams Come True and Nelson Boys’ and Girls’ Club.

He has run 14 marathons and two New York marathons, completing his first London marathon in 1997.

He sells raffle tickets and gets sponsors for his charity projects at his shop, Bob’s Fruit and Veg on Commercial Street, Nelson.

And on his running, he said: “I still do it and I enjoy it and if I help someone worse off than me that is always what I do it for.”

He is currently training for a half Ironman challenge in Llanelli next year for charity, running about 40 miles per week in preparation.

Peter Hong, aged 61, will receive an MBE for services to optometry, particularly for his voluntary service and helping people in Africa and Eastern Europe.

On 18 trips he has voluntarily taken out Cardiff University students and other optometrists to help people’s sight in Moldova, Malawi and Romania, helping about 20,000 people.

Last year he saw nearly 1,500 people in Romania, gave out 2,000 pairs of glasses and carried out four minor operations.

He still works at his practice Peter Hong Opticians on High Street in Blackwood a few days a week.

He said: “It is not about anything that I have done but it is the combined work. Students have done most of the work in Eastern Europe and Africa. They are the ones who raise the money, they have done the hard work.

He is also a trustee for the Onami Eye Foundation in Malawi and advisor to the Heart 4U charity.

South Wales Argus:

Jane Collier of Pontypool has also been awarded an MBE for her years of work with St John Cymru - Wales.

The 58-year-old said she was "over the moon" to be awarded the prestigious accolade.

“I am very surprised," she said. "I had no idea honours were given for things like I have done."

South Wales Argus:

Also from St John Cymru - Wales, Amanda Jolliffe, 43, from Pontypool has been awarded The Medal of the Order of the Order of the British Empire for Meritorious Service (BEM).

Amanda joined the organisation in 1985 as a cadet and by 1989 she had gained the St John Award for over 1,000 hours of voluntary service to the community.

Also during this year she was awarded the Cadet Leader of the Year Award for Wales. During her time as a St John Cadet, she represented both her County of Gwent and Wales in national and local nursing and home care competitions, where she was successful at both levels.

Also handed MBEs were Owain Williams of Newport for public and voluntary services to community cohesion in Wales and Ministry of Defence executive officer Linette Haines, also of Newport, who has been honoured for services to defence.

Among famous faces to be honoured this year are Eastenders and Carry On star Barbara Windsor and Welsh actress Sian Philips, who have both been made Dames.

Meanwhile jockey AP McCoy has been knighted while actors Idris Elba, Imelda Staunton and James Nesbitt have been handed OBEs, as have sports commentator Sue Barker, snooker player Ronnie O’Sullivan and cyclist Chris Froome.