News

Frame boss and former council press officer recognised in New Year’s Honours list

Published

5 years ago

December 31, 2020

THE FOUNDER of a Pembrokeshire charity that employs and trains people with disabilities and learning difficulties has been recognised in the New Year’s Honours list.

A former employee of Pembrokeshire County Council has also been awarded.

Jennifer Ann Sims, founder and CEO of Pembrokeshire Frame, has been recognised for her tireless work with a British Empire Medal (BEM). Ms Sims established the award-winning recycling social enterprise charity in 1994, helping to change the face of recycling and disability employment provision in the county. Responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 75-year-old sought grant funding to launch Pembrokeshire FRAME’s Bags of Care Community Fridge Scheme.

The Royal Victorian Order, is a dynastic order of knighthood established in 1896 by Queen Victoria. It recognises distinguished personal service to the monarch, and has been awarded to the recently retired press officer at Pembrokeshire County Council, Leonard (Len) Maurice Mullins, for ‘services to the Lieutenancy of Pembrokeshire.’

Mr Mullins is the only person in Wales to become a Member of the Royal Victorian Order this year.

In a year that has truly tested the resolve and determination of those on the frontline, the New Year Honours List includes 1,239 recipients, recognised for their extraordinary contributions in all four nations of the United Kingdom.

Public sector workers make up 14.8% of the list and include firefighters, medical professionals, teachers, police officers and local government workers – all of whom are being recognised for making a huge individual impact, and in particular in the response to COVID-19.

An MBE goes to Special Chief Officer Mark Owen, who returned from retirement to lead the Special Constabulary’s response in North Wales.

An MBE goes to Karen McDowell for services to the LGBTQ community and fire service in Northern Ireland.

Charity Helpline Housing Adviser for Shelter Nadeem Khan receives a BEM – unable to return to the UK because of the Covid-19 pandemic, he worked from his personal laptop from a rooftop in Lahore, Pakistan delivering housing advice to over 500 people over three months via web chat to people over 5,000 miles away in the UK.

Included in the List are 123 (10%) health and social care workers – from British Red Cross Ambulance Crew to care home managers – all have played a part in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic.

A BEM goes to Cath Fitzsimmons from Greater Manchester, a former palliative care nurse who came out of retirement for COVID-19.

Dr Azeem Alam, 28 years old from Harpenden, Herts receives the BEM for founding BiteMedicine, which provides free medical education for medical students, physician associates and aspiring doctors during COVID-19, teaching over 10,000 students worldwide via online, live webinars.

Deputy Director of Nursing Jacky Copping, 55 from Beccles, Suffolk, receives an MBE for initiating Face Fit Testing at the James Paget University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust ensuring that frontline workers were properly protected against Covid-19.

This Honours List highlights how Britain’s business sector has stepped up to deliver for the country during COVID-19. From small business owners diverting their resources or changing business models to support the response effort to supermarket workers making sure all their vulnerable customers were stocked up with essential items – this Honours List showcases 111 recipients (9%) being recognised for services to business and the economy.

Publican Caroline Halfhide, aged 51 from Ash in Somerset receives MBE for changing her pub into a village shop for residents to drastically minimise the need for travel to nearby towns for food and essentials.

Founder and CEO of Pembrokeshire Frame, Jennifer Sims, 76 years old, receives the BEM for launching #Bagsofcare Community Fridge Free Bags Scheme, providing hot meals and free bags of food to the vulnerable, the elderly and those struggling financially due to the pandemic.

The majority of awards are for the contributions people have made in their communities. Of those receiving an award, 65% are recognised for their community work.

Captain Emma Henderson, living in Moray in Scotland receives an MBE for founding Project Wingman, creating a first class lounge experience in hospitals in the UK for NHS workers.

The oldest person on the list is Anne Baker from Salisbury in Wiltshire, who at 106 years old receives an MBE for fundraising for the NSPCC.

She is closely followed by 104 year old Ruth Saunders, receiving an MBE for walking a marathon to raise money for Thames Valley Air Ambulance.

The youngest recipient is 20 year old Samah Khalil, the Youth Mayor of Oldham. She receives a BEM for her work in empowering young people.

Architect David Chipperfield is awarded a Companion of Honour, for services to architecture.

Actor Sheila Hancock receives a damehood for services to drama and charity, as does conductor and musicologist Professor Jane Glover for services to music and make-up artist Patricia McGrath for services to the fashion, the beauty industry and to diversity.

A damehood is also awarded to Angela Eagle MP for parliamentary and political service. The Right Honourables Geoffrey Cox QC MP and Thomas Clarke MP receive knighthoods for parliamentary and political service, and public and political service respectively.

In sport, Director of Rugby at Exeter Chiefs Robert Baxter receives an OBE and Captain Joe Simmonds receives a MBE, both for services to Rugby Union Football. Former professional rugby player Rob Burrow receives an MBE for the awareness he has raised around motor neuron disease particularly during the pandemic. MBEs are also awarded to former England footballers Jimmy Greaves and Ron Flowers for services to football.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: “In a year when so many have made sacrifices to protect our NHS and save people’s lives, the outstanding efforts of those receiving honours today are a welcome reminder of the strength of human spirit, and of what can be achieved through courage and compassion.

“The 2021 New Year Honours offer us an opportunity to salute their dedication and recognise many who have gone above and beyond in their contribution to our country.

“As we begin a new year and continue to come together to fight this virus, may their service and stories be an inspiration to us all.”

The full list of New Year’s Honours awarded to people in Wales.

Commanders of the Order of the British Empire (CBE)

Professor Anthony Keith Campbell. Honorary Research Professor, School of Pharmacy, Cardiff University. For services to biochemistry. (Penarth)

Officers of the Order of the British Empire (OBE)

Sara Louise Pepper. Director of Creative Economy, Cardiff University. For services to the creative economy. (Cardiff)

David Thomas Richards. Director of Governance and Ethics, Welsh Government. For public service. (Cardiff)

Emma Swingwood. Physiotherapist, University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust. For services to Physiotherapy. (Monmouthshire)

Giovanni Isingrini. Group Director and Deputy Chief Executive, Rhondda Cynon Taf Council. For services to children in Wales. (Pontypridd)

Simon Keith Pirotte. Principal, Bridgend College. For services to further and higher education in Wales. (Ystradgynlais)

Susan Jane Husband. Director, Business in the Community, Cymru and lately Director, Employer and Employee Engagement, Education and Skills Funding Agency. For services to education. (Barry)

Carol Jane Mack. Chief Executive, Association of Charitable Foundations. For services to charity. (Barry)

Craig Stephenson. For services to parliament and to equality. (Penarth)

Professor Farah Naz Kausar Bhatti. Consultant Cardiothoracic Surgeon. For services to diversity in the NHS in Wales. (Swansea)

Members of the Order of the British Empire (MBE)

Professor Laurence John Alison. Director of the National Centre for the Study of Critical Incident Decision Making, University of Liverpool. For services to critical incident handling and to the NHS during Covid-19 (Greenfield, Flintshire)

Mark Anthony Owen. Special Chief Officer, North Wales Police. For services to policing and to the community in north Wales, particularly during the Covid-19 Response (Llanynys, Denbighshire)

Reverend David John Goronwy Evans. For services to charity and to the community in Lampeter (Lampeter)

Thomas Huw Owen. Founder and managing director, Owens Group. For services to employment and to the community in Llanelli and South Wales (Llanelli)

Dr Lynn Elizabeth Sloman. Founder, Transport for Quality of Life. For services to transport. (Ceredigion)

Kathleen Beavan. For services to agriculture. (Abergavenny)

Professor Barbara Lesley Chadwick. Professor of Paediatric Dentistry and Director, Education and Students School of Dentistry, Cardiff University. For services to paediatric dental health. (Monmouthshire)

Richard Royce Lee QAM. Strategic Commander, St John Ambulance. For services to healthcare during Covid-19. (Caerphilly)

Simone Monique Roden. Headteacher, Ynysowen Community Primary School. For services to education in Aberfan. (Ebbw Vale)

Professor Tamas Szakmany. Critical Care Consultant, Royal Gwent Hospital. For services to the NHS during Covid-19. (Newport)

Dr Stephanie Joy Tyler. For services to nature conservation in the UK and Africa. (Penallt, Monmouthshire)

Richard Paskell. Western Beacons Mountain Rescue Team. For services to mountain rescue and to the community in South Wales. (Pontyclun)

Christine Powell. National Manager, 111 Wales, Welsh Ambulance Service. For services to healthcare and to the 111 service in Wales. (Bridgend)

Robert Andrew Robinson. For public and voluntary service in Powys. (Welshpool)

Professor Alka Surajprakash Ahuja. Consultant Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist, Royal College of Psychiatrists (Wales). For services to the NHS during Covid-19. (Cardiff)

Shane Peter Andrews. Project Operations Interface Specialist, Network Rail. For services to diversity and to inclusion. (Cardiff)

Dr Fiona Charlton Jenkins. Executive Director of Therapies and Health Sciences, Cardiff and Vale University Health Board and Interim Executive Director of Therapies and Health Sciences, Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board. For services to healthcare. (Cardiff)

Judith Stella Rhys. For voluntary service to health and social care. (Cardiff)

Rosemary Bernadertte Stewart. Senior Private Secretary to the First Minister of Wales. For public service. (Cardiff)

Alan Thomas Curtis. For services to Welsh football. (Swansea)

Carol Cecilia Doggett. Senior Matron, Intensive Care, Morriston Hospital, Swansea. For services to leadership and nursing care for intensive care patients and staff, particularly during Covid-19. (Swansea)

Catherine Julie Palmer. Head, Change Governance, Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency. For services to motorists. (Swansea)

Medallists of the Order of the British Empire (BEM)

Vicki Broad. Head of Long Term Care, Hywel Dda University Health Board. For services to the NHS in Wales during the Covid-19 response. (Neath)

Robert Malcolm Davies. Special Constable, South Wales Police. For voluntary service to Policing. (Neath)

Reverend William Glynne George James. Principal Police Chaplain, South Wales Police. For services to Police Chaplaincy and to the community in Gorseinon, Swansea. (Swansea)

Karen Jane Kembery. Clinical Nurse Specialist, Neath Port Talbot Hospital. For services to Nursing in West Glamorgan. (Swansea)

Theresa Valerie Conway. Treasurer, Aberconwy Physically Handicapped and Able Bodied Club. For services to People with Disabilities and to the community in Llandudno. (Conwy)

George Leonard Ellis. For services to Young People and to the community in Abergele (Conwy)

Professor Alexander Toogood. For services to People with Intellectual Disabilities. (Ruthin)

Richard Llewelyn Griffiths. Lifeboat Operations Manager, Aberystwyth Lifeboat Station. For services to the Royal National Lifeboat Institution in Wales. (Aberyswyth)

Sandra May Morgan. For political and public service in Wales. (Ammanford)

Lisa Jane Randell. Senior Support Worker. For services to Health and Social Care during the Covid-19 Response. (Carmarthenshire)

Helen Refna Williams. For services to Vulnerable Young Parents and to the Elderly in Borth during Covid-19. (Ceredigion)

Alexander John Anderson. For voluntary and charitable services to People with Autism in Caerleon. (Newport)

Sharon Higgins. For services to the Performing Arts in Newport. (Newport)

David Charles Knight. For voluntary service to Newport Community Cricket Club. (Newport)

Michael John Knight. For voluntary service to Newport Community Cricket Club. (Newport)

Sharon Grace Thorpe. Clinical Team Leader, Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust. For services to Paramedics and Ambulance Staff. (Newport)

Richard Burnell. For services to Young People and to the community in Holyhead. (Anglesey)

Steven Jones. Systems Auditor and Analysis Manager, South Wales Police. For services to Policing. (Bridgend)

Dennis Murphy. For services to Veterans’ Football in Merthyr Tydfil, Mid Glamorgan. (Merthyr Tydfil)

Jennifer Ann Sims. Chief Executive Officer, Pembrokeshire Frame. For voluntary service. (Milford Haven)

Lorna Keylock. Fundraiser, Brecon and Sennybridge Branch, Cancer Research Wales . For voluntary and charitable services in Brecon. (Brecon)

Brian Frederick Keylock. Fundraiser, Brecon and Sennybridge Branch, Cancer Research Wales . For voluntary and charitable services in Brecon. (Brecon)

Catherine Knapp-Evans. For services to the Arts and to the community in mid Wales. (Caersws)

Jeanne Olive Nuttall. Head, Service Nutrition and Dietetics, Powys Teaching Health Board. For services to Dietetics and Nutrition in Wales. (Llanidloes)

Margaret Sims. For voluntary service to the NHS and to the community in Bronllys, Wales. (Brecon)

Catharine Sinnadurai. For services to Dance Education, Training and Performance. (Brecon)

Harilal Narandas Patel. For services to Community Cohesion in Cardiff. (Cardiff)

David Lincoln Williams. For services to the Arts in Wales. (Cowbridge)

Queen’s Police Medal (QPM)

Sergeant Timothy John Barrell. South Wales Police

Royal Victorian Order

Leonard Maurice Mullins. For services to the Lieutenancy of Pembrokeshire. (Pembrokeshire)

Queen’s Ambulance Service Medal (QAM)

Lee David Brooks. Director of Operations, Frontline Emergency Ambulance Response, Non-Emergency Patient Transport Service and Clinical Contact Centre Services, Welsh Ambulance Service NHS Trust.

Clare Elizabeth Langshaw. Ambulance Operations Manager, Resilience and Specialist Operations, Welsh Ambulance Service NHS Trust.

Health

Resident doctors in Wales vote to accept new contract

Published

4 hours ago

December 18, 2025

Tom Sinclair

RESIDENT doctors across Wales have voted to accept a new contract, with 83% of those who took part in a referendum backing the agreement, according to BMA Cymru Wales.

The contract includes a four per cent additional investment in the resident doctor workforce and introduces a range of reforms aimed at improving training conditions, wellbeing and long-term workforce sustainability within NHS Wales. The BMA says the deal also supports progress towards pay restoration, which remains a central issue for doctors.

Key changes include new safeguards to limit the most fatiguing working patterns, measures intended to address medical unemployment and career progression concerns, and reforms to study budgets and study leave to improve access to training opportunities.

Negotiations between the BMA’s Welsh Resident Doctors Committee, NHS Wales Employers and the Welsh Government concluded earlier this year. Following a consultation period, a referendum of resident doctors and final-year medical students in Wales was held, resulting in a clear majority in favour of the proposals.

Welsh Resident Doctors Committee chair Dr Oba Babs Osibodu said the agreement marked a significant step forward for doctors working in Wales.

He said: “We’re proud to have negotiated this contract, which offers our colleagues and the future generation of doctors safer terms of service, fairer pay, and better prospects so that they can grow and develop their careers in Wales.

“This contract will help to retain the doctors already in training, and also attract more doctors to work in Wales, where they can offer their expertise and benefit patients.”

Dr Osibodu added that the BMA remains committed to achieving full pay restoration and acknowledged that challenges remain for some doctors.

“Whilst this contract sets the foundations for a brighter future for resident doctors in Wales, we recognise that there are still doctors who are struggling to develop their careers and secure permanent work,” he said. “We need to work with the Welsh Government and NHS employers to address training bottlenecks and underemployment.”

The Welsh Government has previously said it recognises the pressures facing resident doctors and the importance of improving recruitment and retention across NHS Wales, while also highlighting the need to balance pay agreements with wider NHS funding pressures and patient demand.

The new contract is expected to be phased in from August 2026. It will initially apply to doctors in foundation programmes, those in specialty training with unbanded rotas, and new starters, before being rolled out to all resident doctors across Wales.

Crime

Swansea man jailed for online child sex offence dies in prison

Published

4 hours ago

December 18, 2025

Tom Sinclair

A SWANSEA man who was jailed earlier this year for attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child has died while in custody.

Gareth Davies, aged 59, of the Maritime Quarter, was serving an 18-month prison sentence after being convicted in May of sending sexually explicit messages to what he believed was a 14-year-old girl. The account was in fact a decoy used as part of an online safeguarding operation.

The court heard that Davies began communicating with the decoy between November and December 2024 and persistently pursued the individual, later attempting to arrange a face-to-face meeting. He was arrested after being confronted by the decoy operators.

Davies had pleaded not guilty but was convicted following a trial. At the time of sentencing, police described the messages as extremely concerning and said his imprisonment was necessary to protect children.

It has now been confirmed that Davies died at HMP Parc on Wednesday (Nov 27) while serving his sentence.

The Prisons and Probation Ombudsman has launched an independent investigation into the death, which is standard procedure in all cases where someone dies in custody. No cause of death has been released at this stage.

A coroner will determine the circumstances in due course.

Farming

Welsh Conservatives warn climate plans could mean fewer livestock on Welsh farms

Published

5 hours ago

December 18, 2025

Tom Sinclair

THE WELSH CONSERVATIVES have challenged the Welsh Government over climate change policies they say could lead to reductions in livestock numbers across Wales, raising concerns about the future of Welsh farming.

The row follows the Welsh Government’s decision, alongside Plaid Cymru and the Welsh Liberal Democrats, to support the UK Climate Change Committee’s Fourth Carbon Budget, which sets out the pathway towards Net Zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

The Carbon Budget, produced by the independent Climate Change Committee (CCC), states that meeting Net Zero targets will require a reduction in agricultural emissions, including changes to land use and, in some scenarios, a reduction in livestock numbers.

During questioning in the Senedd, the Welsh Conservatives pressed the Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs on whether the Welsh Government supports reducing livestock numbers as part of its climate strategy.

Speaking after the exchange, Welsh Conservative Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Samuel Kurtz MS, said the Welsh Government could not distance itself from the implications of the policy it had backed.

Mr Kurtz said: “By voting in favour of these climate change regulations, Labour, Plaid Cymru and the Liberal Democrats have signed up to the UK Climate Change Committee’s call to cut livestock numbers in Wales, and they cannot dodge that reality.

“The Deputy First Minister’s smoke-and-mirrors answers only confirm what farmers already fear: that Labour, along with their budget bedfellows in Plaid and the Lib Dems, are prepared to sacrifice Welsh agriculture in pursuit of climate targets.”

He added that the issue came at a time of growing pressure on the farming sector, pointing to uncertainty over the proposed Sustainable Farming Scheme, the ongoing failure to eradicate bovine TB, nitrogen pollution regulations under the Nitrate Vulnerable Zones (NVZs), and proposed changes to inheritance tax rules affecting family farms.

The Welsh Government has repeatedly said it does not have a target to forcibly reduce livestock numbers and has argued that future emissions reductions will come through a combination of improved farming practices, environmental land management, and changes in land use agreed with farmers.

Ministers have also said the Sustainable Farming Scheme, which is due to replace the Basic Payment Scheme, is intended to reward farmers for food production alongside environmental outcomes, rather than remove land from agriculture.

The UK Climate Change Committee, which advises governments across the UK, has stressed that its pathways are based on modelling rather than fixed quotas, and that devolved governments have flexibility in how targets are met.

However, farming unions and rural groups in Wales have warned that policies focused on emissions reduction risk undermining the viability of livestock farming, particularly in upland and marginal areas where alternatives to grazing are limited.

The debate highlights the growing tension between climate targets and food production in Wales, with livestock farming remaining a central part of the rural economy and Welsh cultural identity.

As discussions continue over the final shape of the Sustainable Farming Scheme and Wales’ long-term climate plans, pressure is mounting on the Welsh Government to reassure farmers that climate policy will not come at the expense of the sector’s survival.