A GREENSKEEPER, a retired headteacher and charity workers were among the Gwent people to be named in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list this year.

Head greenskeeper at the Celtic Manor Resort, Jim McKenzie receives an MBE for services to sport following his 18 years of hard work looking after the fairways which also ensured the smooth running of the 2010 Ryder Cup.

The modest Scotsman, 49, paid tribute to his team and the army of volunteers who helped make the event so memorable which included new wife Debbie, 45, and son Elliot, 15.

He said: "In just 12 months we have had the most successful Wales Opens. I got married last June, then there was the Ryder Cup and now this – it’s been quite a year."

He added: "The team were great, hard working and absolutely extraordinary. This award is for them as well."

Among this year’s Gwent OBE recipients was Mal Davies, 61, of Griffithstown, whose award for services to education tops off a much-loved career in teaching.

Mr Davies was head at Willows High School, Cardiff, for 16 years before retiring at Christmas and was also chairman of the General Teaching Council for Wales for six years.

The married father of two and grandfather of one thanked the "excellent" teaching teams he has worked with.

He said: "The difference you can make to young person’s lives is a privilege. It is absolutely terrific to receive this."

Other Gwent MBE recipients include Diana Bown, 71, of Itton, Chepstow who is recognised for her voluntary service to Equestrian sport.

Having enjoyed riding all her life, Mrs Bown started organising an annual eventing contest at Chepstow Racecourse 34 years ago and in 1999 she started a new event at the David Broome Event Centre, Caldicot, which is now in its 10th year.

She was also board director of British Eventing for six years and chaired the British Eventing Organisers Association for eight years.

Mrs Bown thanked her family for their support and said: "I see it as a big thank you to all the volunteers for their huge team effort in Equestrian work."

Steven Knapik, 55, of Tredegar receives an MBE for services to young people in Merthyr Tydfil and in Poland.

Mr Knapik was an art and design teacher at Pen-Y-Dre High School, Merthyr Tydfil, for 31 years and set up the Blue Balloon Children’s Charity which has helped raise more than £60,000 over the past 12 years for disadvantaged children.

Mr Knapik, who is married to Denise and a father of two, said: "I feel very humbled. It has been an absolute privilege to help make a difference in the education of young people."

Former public health dentist, Jane Rhodes, 70, of Tintern, receives an MBE for services to homeless people in Wales.

Originally from Essex, Ms Rhodes has been a trustee with homeless charity Wallich Clifford since she retired to Tintern in the late 1990s.

She said: "I was very surprised. I never expected anything."

"But it’s the charity itself that should receive the appreciation."

Kay Spencer, 66, of Raglan, receives an MBE for services to the agricultural community in Monmouthshire after organising the Monmouthshire show for 16 years and chairing the association of show and agricultural organisations for two years.

The mother of two and grandmother of two has always been passionate about farming, training at Seale Hayne agricultural college, Devon, and working in west Wales as a dairy husbandry advisor for seven years.

She said: "I am flabbergasted, absolutely over the moon and completely honoured."

Dr Sunirmal Biku Ghosh, of Monmouthshire, receives an OBE for services to medicine. Dr Ghosh is the founder of Gwent-Southern Ethiopia Health Link, a charity which sends out medical staff to train frontline health professionals in rural parts of the country.

Retired Chief Superintendent of Gwent Police, Simon Deacy receives an OBE for services to victims and witnesses.

Mr Deacy, of Pontypool, is the national manager of the No Witness, No Justice programme in England and Wales which cares for witnesses and victims of crime.

Other MBE recipients are Michael Roger Davies, of Newport, for services to the Co-operative Movement and to the community in south Wales and Linda Mary Williams, of Caldicot, for services as executive officer of the pension, disability and carers’ service of the department for work and pensions.