Gwent people honoured for Queen's Birthday

A RETIRED headteacher from Newport has been honoured with an OBE for services to education and the community in South East Wales.

Steve Marshall is among those from Gwent - including a breast cancer fundraiser and a scout leader - who are honoured today in the Queen's Birthday Honours list.

Mr Marshall, 62, who retired from St Julian's High School last summer after 24 years at the school, has been made an OBE for services to education and the community in South East Wales.

He joined the school as deputy headteacher in 1987 before being made head in 1993.

"I'm very excited about it and feel very humble," he said.

"I will be accepting it on behalf of a lot of others - it reflects their contribution to the work I have done, as well as my contribution to whatever has been achieved."

Mr Marshall, who was born just outside Bradford in Yorkshire, worked as a teacher in Lancashire prior to coming to Newport.

He said family and friends, St Julian's Methodist Church, and the teachers, pupils, parents and support staff were fundamental in helping him achieve his honour.

Dad-of-two Mr Marshall said without the help and encouragement of staff, pupils and parents he "wouldn't have been able to do very much at all."

A Valleys grandmother who battled breast cancer twice is honoured with an MBE after helping to raise more than £1 million for a cancer charity.

Liz Sullivan, 66, from Ebbw Vale, is recognised for her charitable services to breast cancer research.

She said: "It was a shock. My uncle Ivor Evans, was awarded an MBE for his work with gymnastics in 1960 so it is lovely to follow him.

"I’m accepting this honour, not just for me but for all six of us women who have been behind In The Pink for eleven years."

Mrs Sullivan helped found the In the Pink charity which raises money for breast cancer research at Velindre Hospital, Cardiff University and Tenovus, after she was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2002.

Founders were all women who had been diagnosed with breast cancer.

Grandmother-of-two Mrs Sullivan was diagnosed with breast cancer a second time in 2004 and had to have a mastectomy.

The charity celebrated its tenth anniversary last year and reached the £1 million mark by holding annual walks along the Monmouthshire and Brecon canal and other events.

Last weekend saw 800 people take part in a fun-run and charity walk along the Sustrans cycle path between Brynmawr and Llanfoist, raising around £33,000.

Patricia Hillman of Gilwern, near Abergavenny, was honoured with an MBE for her service to the scout movement.

The grandmother-of-two has worked tirelessly with hundreds of scouts in the area over the past 25 years.

Her involvement with the organisation began when she joined 1st Gilwern Scouts as a group secretary and progressed to 1st scout leader, group, deputy district commissioner and most recently Monmouthshire and District Scout leader training manager.

Mrs Hillman, 65, said she was gobsmacked when she received the letter about her MBE.

She said: "I don’t know who nominated me but am honoured and can’t wait to tell my children and grand-children."

Newport nurse Joy Jones, who specialises in eating disorder services, will receive an MBE.

Ms Jones is the clinical lead for tier three eating disorders services for the Aneurin Bevan Health Board and South Powys.

Ms Jones, from Caerleon, said she was "incredibly honoured and humbled" to hear the news.

She said: "I have been very privileged to work with fantastic people over the years and gained incredible support from the Aneurin Bevan Health Board."

Ms Jones started work with what is now the Aneurin Bevan Health Board in 1975 and initially specialised in child and adolescent mental health.

She developed an interest in eating disorder services and has specialised in this field for 15 years.

Blackwood Rugby Club's president has been honoured with a British Empire Medal - an award brought back for this year's list.

Over the years, Owen Parfitt, 75, has been a player, coach and captain for the club.

He started out as a scrum half for the club in 1958, was chairman for 32 years and has been president for four years.

He said the club has been a big part of his life and said the medal is special for him and his family who made a lot of sacrifices.

Mr Parfitt, who worked as a teacher at Bedwellty Grammar School and Blackwood Comprehensive School, said highlights of his involvement with the club include getting out of the Monmouthshire league and into the national league, winning the Heineken third division and developing the club's facilities.

Other Gwent honours

GWENT Police Chief Constable Carmel Napier will receive a Queen's Police Medal.

The Chief Constable said she was thrilled to receive the award.

She said: "I believe this is a significant tribute to the great work and achievements of those in the services, communities and other agencies that I have worked with and for, and also recognises my personal contribution to policing and leadership."

The Chief Constable took up the post at Gwent Police in April 2011 and was previously the force's deputy chief constable.

The former head of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents Wales Steve Baker will receive an MBE.

Mr Baker, 61, from Coed Eva, Cwmbran, retired two months ago from the role he held for 15 years.

He said: "I'm very pleased to receive this on behalf of all road safety professionals in Wales."

He now volunteers as secretary of the society's South Wales advanced drivers group and is also chairman of Coed Eva and Hollybush Community Association.

Milica Kitson, of Bassaleg, Newport, was awarded an OBE for services to the construction industry.

Ms Kitson is chief executive of Constructing Excellence in Wales, which promotes best practice and knowledge across the industry.

She said she could not have achieved the honour without her team.

She said: "I was overwhelmed. You don't expect anything like that to happen to you."

Adrian Clark, 49, of Monmouth, was honoured with an OBE in recognition of his work within financial services.

Mr Clark established Legal and General's operation in Cardiff 13 years ago, serving as operations director in the city.

He has now left and is chairman of Cardiff and Co, which markets the capital city.

The dad-of-two said: "I'm absolutely over the moon, delighted and honoured to have even been considered."

Also honoured are:

* Gwent-man Derrick Price, who was given an OBE. Mr Price is a senior investigating officer for DEFRA Investigation Services and a councillor for Cruse Bereavement Care.

* Michael Pullin, from Monmouthshire, was awarded a British Empire Medal for services to St Micheal's Hospice, Herefordshire, which provides palliative care education and training in the area.