New Year honours for locals (From Tivyside Advertiser)

New Year honours for locals

12:27pm Monday 4th January 2010

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A number of local people received awards in the New Year Honours list this year.

They are: Clynderwen born Dyfrig John is to be awarded an Order of the British Empire CBE for services to the financial services industry.

The former Ysgol y Preseli pupil was chief executive of HSBC, and received the only high profile honour for banking in the New Year Honours list.

Mr John, aged 59, retired in March after a 38 year career in the banking industry.

He joined Midland Bank in 1971 as a management trainee, and went on to help modernise HSBC’s branch network. His role covered the UK, Europe and the Middle East.

Recently Mr John has made moves to return to his Pembrokeshire roots, and local group the Dhogie Band, who he played guitar with in the 1970s, are hoping for a reunion when they record their next CD.

Known as one of the biggest names in the banking sector, Mr John was appointed to the board of the Principality Building Society earlier this year, and became a non-executive director.

A former police detective who worked undercover on the famous Seal Bay operation back in the early 1980’s and ran a public house for many years has been awarded the MBE in the New Year’s Honours List for services to local government in Ceredigion.

Cllr. Eurfyl Evans who represents the Llanarth ward as a Liberal Democrat on the county council is a member of the cabinet and holds the portfolio for Tourism and Economic Development.

A native of Ceibach near New Quay he became a county councillor in 1996 and sits on a number of committees – he is currently chairman of the Fire Authority Committee and on the national pay negotiating panel for the Fire Authority.

He joined the Dyfed Powys Police Force in 1969 and was for many years a detective stationed at Cardigan.

Mr. Evans did a significant amount of undercover work during the Seal Bay drugs operation in north Pembrokeshire in 1983 when he lived in Eglwyswrw.

In 1989 he and his wife Ann took over the Llanina Arms in Llanarth where they remained for 14 years before retiring to live in Ceibach. They have three children, Rhian, Nerys and Bleddyn, and four granddaughters.

Taken aback by the MBE award Mr. Evans said: "I did not have any idea whatsoever and I am obviously delighted and honoured.

"I would like to pay tribute to my family and also my constituents for the support they have shown me over the years," he said.

County council leader Cllr Keith Evans said: "I am delighted that people who serve in local government have once again been recognised.

"I am particularly delighted for Eurfyl as a hard-working member of our cabinet as well as doing an immense amount of work on our behalf on outside bodies and in particular the Fire Authority," he said.

Mrs Valerie Hazel Jackson was made MBE for her services to the community in Newcastle Emlyn. She has done voluntary work for a number of years at several local centres, including Maesllewellyn Residential Home, the Teifi Valley Day Centre and HUTS.

Bernadine Rees receives the OBE for services to the NHS in Wales. Mrs Rees, who comes originally from Fishguard and now lives in Llechryd, is now director of primary care, community and mental health services at the Hywel Dda Health Board. She was previously chief executive of the local health boards in Ceredigion, Pembrokeshire and for a short time in Carmarthenshire.

She said: "I am delighted and surprised to receive this honour. There are a lot of people behind me and I am pleased to see that the work we have been doing in west Wales has been recognised."

Mrs Rees has served the NHS on both a national and local level for all her working life.

She started as a trainee nurse at West Wales General Hospital, during the 1970s. Having gained a Masters degree in health service management, she has held a number of high level posts including director of nursing and chair of the Welsh Nursing and Midwifery Committee.

"I really feel that I didn’t get this award off my own back, there have been a lot of people who have supported me, both family, friends and colleagues in the NHS. In recognising my leadership, this award recognises the many people I have worked with for whom the patient is paramount," she said.

ASG NEWID – PRESS RELEAS

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