Two Gwent people honoured at Palace

Former chairman of Melin Homes, Doiran Jones was awarded with an OBE for his services to housing in south Wales while Dorothy Penny received a MBE for her voluntary services after she started up a PHAB (physically handicapped and able bodied) club in Ebbw Vale 37 years ago to keep people active.

Both were watched by family as they were presented with their awards on Tuesday by Prince William.

Mr Jones, 68, of Pontypool, who has been involved with housing associations for 31 years, described the day as “extremely rewarding”.

He said: “I was extremely delighted to have been given the opportunity to receive the award.”

Mr Jones was chairman of Melin Homes from 2007 until last year. He also served as the chairman of the former Eastern Valley Housing Association for 10 years prior to that before the association merged with Gwerin Housing Association to form Melin Homes.

He served as a director of Eastern Valley Housing Association prior to his appointment as chairman.

Mr Jones received his award being watched by his wife Sonia, daughter Annette Rowlands and son Christopher Jones.

Mrs Penny, 73, of Ebbw Vale, described the day as “absolutely fabulous”.

She was joined by her son Vincent Penny and daughter Alison Jones and said: “It’s the kind of experience that can only happen once.”

The club, which is now called the Gwent Valleys Integrated Activities Club, is still going strong with around 90 members on its books and organises trips to Disney theme parks in Florida and Paris.

Mrs Penny said it was meeting the Queen at the opening of Risca leisure centre in 1978 which first inspired her to open the club in Ebbw Vale.

She said: “I was asked to escort a group of young people from a youth club in Risca. Some of them were disabled and it was a PHAB club. I was so impressed, I decided to set one up in Ebbw Vale.

She said: “I am really pleased that it has been such a success and that it is still going on after all these years.