A MOUNTAIN rescue charity has received more than £1,600 in donations in memory of a former special constabulary chief officer, Peter Howells OBE.

Gwent Police hosted this year's Special Constabulary National Conference last weekend at the St Pierre Marriot Hotel and Country Club in Chepstow which raised money for the nominated charity the Central Beacons Mountain Rescue Team.

The money was raised through a gala dinner and the sale of pin badges which celebrated the 185th anniversary of the formation of the Special Constabulary. Mr Howells, was a special constable for more than 40 years in Newport, retiring in December 2013 at the rank of special's chief officer.

He was also a founding member of the Morlais Mountain Rescue team in 1963, later to become the Central Beacons Mountain Rescue Team (CBMRT), where he took up roles including team leader and chairman, alongside high-profile national and regional roles.

These efforts earned him an OBE in 2005.

The 68-year-old electrical engineer, originally from Dowlais, Merthyr Tydfil, chose the charity for this year's conference before he lost his eight-month battle with cancer on January 25, of this year.

His wife Penny Brockman, a team leader of Central Beacons MRT and his daughter Rachel attended the gala dinner.

The aim of the conference was to inspire volunteering and give special constables from across the UK the opportunity to come together to develop knowledge and expertise, exchange best practice and meet new colleagues.

On Friday night alone officers with more than 7,000 years of special service between them attended. Workshops were also held covering cyber-crime, leadership and inputs from special constables who undertake specialist roles across the UK such as football spotters and those based in Airports.

Richard Jones, special's chief officer, said: "Everyone enjoyed the gala dinner, with fantastic food and superb entertainment. We were fortunate to have been joined by my predecessor Peter Howells' widow Penny and daughter Rachel.

"Running alongside the conference was Operation Angler our policing operation of the event which was run seamlessly by specials inspector Gareth Owen and his team of officers who were present throughout the event. I would like to thank all of them along with Emily Godsell and Leeanne Husselbee for all they did for such an inspiring weekend."