It’s an honour!
Who got New Year gongs?
AMONG the local recipients of this year’s New Year’s Honours are LGBT rights champions, educators and NHS workers.
Cain Frederick NewtonEvans, aged 27, is the highest ranking special in the Dyfed-Powys Police Special Constabulary and the youngest special chief officer in the UK.
He receives the British Empire Medal (BEM) for services to policing and to the LGBT community in Wales.
Aged 17, he was the victim of a horrific homophobic attack in his home town when he was followed and attacked at a railway crossing, leaving him needing surgery.
Cairn spent months terrified of leaving the house, but rather than let the experience ruin his life he decided to join the Special Constabulary at the age of 18. He has risen through the ranks and now sits on the chief officer board of Dyfed-Powys Police.
He is a member of the LGBT Staff Network and actively promotes equality and diversity within the force, visits schools and gives talks about his experience. His story has helped a number of students come out to their classmates and families.
On being awarded the BEM, Cain, who is originally from the Amman Valley and now lives in Ammanford, said: “I was gobsmacked and I’ve had to keep it a secret for a month, and for me keeping quiet is hard”, he laughed.
“But in all honesty, I’m honoured to be given the BEM for my work.
“Going out to schools, colleges and speaking to youngsters and groups of all ages is important.
“There is greater understanding now of the LGBT community and my work is vital in engaging with young people within that community and educating others about it.”
Barry Liles, a former engineer with a passion and reputation for leadership in the further education sector has been appointed an OBE. Mr Liles is the skills champion for Wales and provice-chancellor at the University of Wales Trinity Saint David. He has been appointed OBE for his services to skills and young people.
The former principal and chief executive officer at Coleg Sir Gâr, Mr Liles said: “I feel extremely privileged to be recognised, but appreciate that I owe so much to others who have supported me.
“I am so grateful to my former staff at Coleg Sir Gâr, colleagues and stakeholders without whom this recognition would not have been possible.”
A long-serving manager within the NHS has been appointed MBE for services to healthcare.
Michael Thomas John Ponton is a former com- munity independent member of the Hywel Dda University Health Board having served on it from 2012 up until 2018. Having worked within the NHS since 1962, Mr Ponton, who now lives in Llangain, near Carmarthen, held managerial positions in Cardiff, Morriston and then at Carmarthen.
He was recently made an honorary professor of Swansea University.
Nicola Kathryn Symmons, head teacher at Heol Goffa school in Llanelli, was appointed MBE for services to education.
She said: “I am thrilled to be receiving an MBE. It’s a huge honour and I hope it will further raise the profile of the school.
“We’ve had a wonderful time over the last 18 months.
“We had a double excellent in our Estyn inspection and we celebrated 50 years in Heol Goffa.
“Council leader Emlyn Dole announced that we will be having a new school, and now to receive an MBE is fabulous.
“That’s all we need now, is for the design of the new school to truly meet the needs of our pupils, which I hope will be confirmed in the very near future, and that will really be the icing on the cake”
Dr Nicola Phillips, professor in sport and exercise physiotherapy, Cardiff University, has been appointed OBE for services to physiotherapy.
Dr Phillips lives in Coity, Bridgend, but is the daughter of retired Carmarthen coracle man Gordon Phillips. She has worked with Team Wales and Team GB at the Olympic, Paralympic and Commonwealth Games.