Gwent people honoured

In a stunning year for the Torfaen town, Blaenavon was awarded World Heritage Status, and Big Pit was named Wales Family Attraction of the Year in the 2002 edition of the Good Britain Guide.

And Grosmont resident Mr Rodger, 62, is honoured for his work with the Blaenavon Partnership.

He said: "They tell you not to tell anyone about the honour when they write to you, but I never actually believed it was true until it happened. We're a team and it was a team effort, but I was brought in to help and it's been an honour to do so. Being a World Heritage Site puts Blaenavon on the map.

"The partnership was formed to try to maximise the potential of our industrial heritage, which is a very ambitious project.

"We decided way back in 1997, when the UK government was thinking of adding more sites to the World Heritage list, that we wanted to be first on the list.

"We went to a conference in Cairns, Australia, and to see Blaenavon up in lights along with all those others was the highlight of my working life.

"I'm very committed to the future of the town. The community has responded and they're beginning to believe in themselves again. Working with them is a great pleasure, as far as I'm concerned."

Blaenavon councillor Neil Lewis had nothing but praise for Mr Rodger's contribution. He said: "He went to Australia and brought back World Heritage Status for Blaenavon. "I was only congratulating him on Friday for all the hard work he's done. He deserves it entirely - he's a very great man."

*TWO Gwent teachers receive awards for services to education in the New Year Honours.

Keith Rowlands, head at The Dell Primary School, Chepstow, receives the OBE. Pontnewydd Primary School head Paula Wadsworth receives the MBE.

Mr Rowlands, of Usk Road, Chepstow, said he wished his mother, Dorothy, who died at the beginning of the year, could have shared his joy.

"My first thought was for my mother who died in January. Her father, Alfred Waterhouse, was president of the National Federation of Anglers and received an OBE in the 1950s for his work in tackling river pollution. I think my mother would have been proud that both her father and son had received such an honour."

Father-of-two Mr Rowlands, head at The Dell since it opened in 1989, began his teaching career at Pembroke Junior School (now Pembroke Primary School) in 1968.

Mr Rowlands, who plans to wed fiancee Maureen next summer, said it was testament to his colleagues and Monmouth-shire LEA.

"I would like to thank past and present staff and governors I have worked with and Monmouthshire education director, Phil Cooke and all the education officers, as I feel it is with their help that I have grown professionally. I plan to get married in 2002 and it now will be a double celebration."

Mrs Wadsworth, a mother of two from Abergavenny, was head teacher at Pontymoile Primary School, Pontypool, for eight years before taking over the reins at Pontnewydd 1996. In 1997, she was made acting head of Garnteg School in Torfaen after it was briefly labelled as "failing" and managed to turn it around during her tenure.

Councillor John Turner, Torfaen's executive member for education, said: "This honour is richly deserved."

*SERVICES to his community earned Rogiet councillor Gerald Robbins an MBE.

Independent councillor Robbins learned he was in line for the honour in November. "It came as a complete and utter shock and I couldn't take it in. I have met many people who have been given civil recognition like this but I was quite taken aback."

Councillor Robbins, 69, of Grenville Terrace, Rogiet, said keeping the news of the award secret had been quite difficult He said: "I only told my wife Joyce. Any award I get at least half belongs to her because of her support."

He has served Rogiet community as an elected councillor since 1986. Before then he carried out other work on behalf of the community. He was also a major force in getting the Boundary Commission to agree to having an elected member for Rogiet instead of lumping the area into the ward for Magor and Undy.

Most recently he was vice-chairman of Monmouthshire county council from 1999-2000 and chairman from 2000 until May 2001.

* An MBE also goes to Gwent Police's force welfare officer Nigel Graham Pocknell. Mr Pocknell, of Cwmbran, receives the award for services to retired police officers.

* Two senior staff from the Royal Gwent Hospital are honoured. Dr Owain Morris Gibby, consultant diabetologist, of Usk, receives the OBE for services to medicine, while specialist diabetic nurse Glenys Irene Matthews, of Newport, is awarded the MBE for services to health care.

* Champion fundraiser Trevor Turner, of Abergavenny received the MBE for his charitable services to the community.

*COUNCILLOR Ivor Davies receives the MBE for his services to the Torfaen community. The 65-year-old retired Gwent Ambulance Service worker, from Pontnewynydd - a councillor since 1974 - is recognised for his community work.

The ward member for Snatchwood, Abersychan, has helped raise money for countless projects in the area.

He was instrumental in securing a Torfaen council grant of £28,000 to fund the Pontnewynydd Community Centre in 1986, and the same year helped organise a number of events to raise the £12,000 needed to restore the chapel memorial in St Cadoc's Church, Trevethin.

Speaking from the home he shares with wife Florence in Holyoake Terrace, he said: "This is a great honour and I am very pleased. This award is also for the people I represent. I am over the moon.

"I am just an ordinary guy doing an ordinary job. This hasn't really sunk in yet."

He added that it had been really hard keeping his recognition a secret from his seven children.

"I have had to keep this very close to my chest. This has been very difficult as we are a very close family and I have never kept a secret from them. But yes, this is a lovely start to the New Year."

Councillor Brian Smith, leader of Torfaen council, said: "I am thrilled to bits for Ivor. He has been a dedicated councillor for many years and I really am delighted."

* An MBE also goes to Harold Mutters, of Hillview Avenue, Gilwern, for his services to young people.

Mr Mutters, 79, known locally as Sam, said: "No-one can do youth work without the support of their wife and family.

"My wife, Renee, is a couple of years younger than me and half the honour is hers.

"I've been in youth work for 40 years. I'm very proud, but the fact is that all I did was organise a big group of voluntary people."