An 89-year-old Tenby RNLI volunteering stalwart and a 13-year-old cancer fundraiser are amongst Pembrokeshire people that have been recognised in the King’s New Year Honours list.

Thirteen-year-old Elyn (Elly) Neville has been awarded a BEM for services to charitable services to Cancer Patients and to Cancer Services in Pembrokeshire.

Elly was just 5 and a half years old, when she raised £500 for the cancer ward at Withybush Hospital that cared for her father Lyn when he was receiving cancer treatment.

She is now the face of the ‘Elly's Ward 10 Flag’ fundraising appeal that has raised over £210,000 for improvements to cancer services at Withybush in Haverfordwest.

Elly said: “It is amazing to be given a BEM and a big surprise. I am just really happy to have been able to help people who are going through cancer like my dad did.

“I am glad that what I have done for Withybush Hospital has helped people and hope that it continues to affect people positively.”

Elly’s dad, Lyn remarked: “We are just so very proud of all that Elly has achieved. To raise £213,500 for the Ward 10 Cancer Ward and a further £16,500 for Children’s Services is amazing.

“For Elly to get recognition for what she has done for her community is brilliant and well deserved.”

Doreen Mortimer, a volunteer RNLI shop manager in Tenby was amongst six RNLI volunteers who have been recognised by His Majesty The King for their incredible contribution to the charity as it approaches its 200th anniversary on March 4.

Doreen who has been awarded an MBE, has generated more than £1 million in the last 11 years alone and whose dedication has made her shop in Tenby consistently the second busiest in the UK and Ireland.

During 26 years with her local fundraising branch, Doreen’s tireless devotion to the RNLI’s cause has seen her volunteering for up to 50 hours a week during peak periods despite being 89 years old.

“I was absolutely gobsmacked when I found out, and very honoured of course – not in a million years did I expect anything like this,” said Doreen.

“Really, it’s all thanks to everybody I’ve worked with. I’ve led a team here for 15 years but without the volunteers, I’d be nothing. This award is a thank you to everyone who’s helped at the shop.”

Determined to continue giving her time to the organisation she calls her family for years to come, Doreen doesn’t plan to step down any time soon.

“The RNLI has kept my grey cells going and hopefully it will continue,” she remarked.

“To me it’s always been my family and an important part of my life, one I may have to give up eventually, but not for now while I’m still able.”

Others from across the county that have been recognised in The King’s New Year Honours List for their selfless service to others this New Year, include:

Dr Simon Hancock, the county councillor for Neyland East who has been awarded an MBE for services to the community in Pembrokeshire.

Earlier this year, Cllr Hancock who is the presiding member for the County Council was named new Armed Forces Champion for Pembrokeshire.

Gina Beard, Lead Cancer Nurse for Hywel Dda University Health Board has been awarded an OBE for services to Cancer Nursing.

Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service’s watch manager at Crymych Fire Station, Euros Hefin Edwards has also been awarded an MBE for services to Fire and Rescue.

Wendy Barnett has been awarded a BEM for services to the community in Milford Haven.

She has been a Guide Leader in Pembrokeshire for over 55 years and over 1,000 girls, between the ages of 11 and 16 have benefitted from her advice and encouragement.

Wendy currently leads 1st Hakin Guides, who meet each week during term time at North Road Baptist Church in Milford Haven.

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.

Also recognised with an MBE is consultant nurse Linda Edmunds who leads the Aneurin Bevan University Health Board’s Heart Failure and Cardiac Rehabilitation team which runs clinics across Gwent.

Mrs Edmunds, who lives in Haverfordwest, has worked with the Gwent board for the past seven years having joined the NHS in 1977 and worked in cardiac nursing since 1983, first in Cardiff and the Vale including clinics in Llandough and Barry.

“It’s obviously lovely and not something you expect but it’s nice to have been awarded it,” said Mrs Edmunds of the honour and said she has been involved since specialist services were developed in the early 1990s.

“There were very little cardiac rehabilitation services then, I was with Cardiff and Vale, they started the programme and groups started across Wales. It’s great to have the opportunity to have been involved in the service since the beginning and the same with heart failure there was very little nursing input 25 years ago and to see it grow from one person in a service to a full team is wonderful.”

Married for 38 years, the 64-year-old grandmother of two said her husband Chris has “supported me throughout my career and I probably couldn’t have done it without him” and said she felt the “humbling” honour is an acknowledgement for “all the teams I’ve worked with”.

The Prime Minister is committed to ensuring that honours are awarded to people across the whole of the UK, so that the honours system captures and celebrates the fantastic contribution of people from throughout the country.

Anyone can nominate someone for an honour. If you know someone who has achieved fantastic things worthy of recognition, go to https://www.gov.uk/honours to find out more about how you can put them forward.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said: “The New Year’s Honours list recognises the exceptional achievements of people across the country and those who have shown the highest commitment to selflessness and compassion.

“To all honourees, you are the pride of this country and an inspiration to us all.”

Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden said: “Everyone from Wales receiving honour today represents the best in British communities.

“I send my warmest congratulations to this year’s recipients, all of whom are incredibly deserving for what they have achieved.

“If you know someone in your community who has done something extraordinary, nominate them for an honour so together we can recognise what they have achieved.”

Secretary of State for Wales David TC Davies said: “I am inspired by the many inspirational people from across Wales who have deservedly been recognised on the New Year Honours List.

“It is fantastic to see people from such a wide range of backgrounds being recognised, including for services to business, community work, culture, charity or health.

“Hearing about the extraordinary and invaluable work of so many people from across Wales is inspiring - I congratulate all the recipients being honoured and thank each and every one for their contribution.”