Check out Wales' New Year Honours
Welsh community heroes named in King's New Year Honours list
Last updated 30th Dec 2023
People from across Wales have been recognised for their selfless service to others this New Year.
The King’s New Year Honours List includes recipients who have made exceptional contributions to their local communities and the country as a whole.
Elyn (Elly) Neville
Elly has been awarded a BEM for services to charitable services to Cancer Patients and to Cancer Services in Pembrokeshire. Elly is 13 years old and when she was just 5 and a half, raised £500 for the cancer ward at Withybush Hospital that cared for her father when he was receiving cancer treatment. She is now the face of a fundraising appeal that has raised over £210,000 for improvements to cancer services at Withybush Hospital.
Wendy Barnett
Wendy has been awarded a BEM for services to the community in Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire. She has been a Guide Leader in Pembrokeshire for 55 years and over 1,000 girls, between the ages of 11 and 16 have benefitted from her advice and encouragement. For the past 20 years, she has arranged the annual Pembrokeshire Christmas Parcel Scheme, where food parcels are delivered to families who are struggling. Last Christmas, over 100 families benefited from this project.
Wayne Griffiths
Wayne has been awarded a BEM for services to Fundraising for Cancer Care and Cancer Research. After losing his daughter to cervical cancer at just 25, he has worked tirelessly to raise funds for organisations that provide high quality care for cancer patients and their families. He has raised more than £900.000 to support Velindre Cancer Centre and has also raised £200,000 for Macmillan.
Howard Provis
Howard has been awarded an MBE for services to the community in Barry and the Vale of Glamorgan and to the Welsh Blood Transfusion Service. He has donated blood over 500 times with 1,050 credits, becoming one of the Welsh Blood Service’s (and UK’s) largest donors – even donating blood to be transported while living abroad in Germany.
Deborah (Debbie) Turnbull
Debbie has been awarded an MBE for services to water safety education for young people and their families. She founded the non-profit organisation River and Sea Sense following the death of her son who drowned in 2006 and has since educated over 500,000 children and adults on the importance of water safety. She organises basic first aid and CPR training with the Royal Life Saving Society, with special focus on secondary school children.