BRYNMAWR's vicar was awarded the Queen's Volunteer Reserve Medal in the New Year Honours list for his military work.

The Reverend Richard Grey is a major of the Army's Chaplain Corps. For more than 30 years Mr Grey has served the people of Gwent as a clergyman of the Church in Wales.

Since 1978, when he was commissioned into the Territorial Army, he has also had another congregation - tens of thousands of British soldiers serving at home and abroad.

"I am absolutely delighted with the award. The army has been a big part of my life," Mr Grey said.

"I didn't hear until quite late. Over the Christmas holiday the forms must have got stuck in a drawer somewhere.

"I was commissioned into the Newport-based 104 Regiment of the Royal Artillery, which is based at Newport, although I have been sent on detachment to other parts of the British Army, including British Forces Germany and in Iraq."

Carmarthenshire-born and educated at Llandeilo Grammar School and Lampeter University, where he read divinity, and with postgraduate qualifications from Oxford, Mr Grey moved to Gwent in 1975 as the curate at Blaenavon.

He served for two years before moving to Maesglas, remaining there until 1980, when he was appointed rector of Bedwellty from 1980 until 1988. From there he moved to become the rector of Govilon, Llanfoist and Llanellen, and also rural dean of Abergavenny. He became vicar of Brynmawr in 2002.

Like all other chaplains in the British Army, Mr Grey is known as Padre. A hearty man with a powerful singing voice, he leaves you in no doubt that, as far as he is concerned, the British Army and the Lord's Army are pretty much the same thing.

"It is a privilege for me to work among soldiers, many of whom will have been cut off from normal contact with their churches," he said.

"Under army rules they were going to retire me at 55, but I have an extension to go on until I'm 60.

"I might not be able to jump into a Land Rover any more, but I can climb into one."

Lieutenant Colonel David Luck, the commanding officer of 104 Regiment, said: "I am absolutely delighted for Richard for this wholly deserved and fitting recognition of his unstinting service."