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Independent councillor for Blackwood Kevin Etheridge has said the OBE he has been awarded won’t change him.

Cllr Etheridge was named as one of several people from Caerphilly recognised in this year’s King’s Birthday Honours, alongside former Caerphilly MP Wayne David, who has been awarded a knighthood.

Speaking to Caerphilly Observer after the announcement on Friday June 14, he said: “I found out about three weeks ago and was in total shock.

“It was a letter which at the top said ‘highly confidential’, so I hadn’t mentioned it to anyone.”

As well as Cllr Etheridge and Mr David being named, dancer Amy Dowden will receive an MBE, and Penelope Brockman will be awarded an OBE for services to mountain rescue.

Cllr Etheridge continued: “I’ve been quite overwhelmed since the announcement was made. My dad was a miner, my mother worked in a shop…I’m just a boy from the Valleys really.

“Its been 40 years of hard work. I always say I’m impartial – I don’t care who people vote for, but if there is an injustice, I will take up the fight for them.”

The former Independent group leader has received recognition in the past for his work. He was named Community Champion of the year in 2021 at a national awards ceremony.

“It has been very rewarding and nice to see the reaction. I’ve had people knocking my door and posting cards. There have been hundreds of lovely comments online and I’ve thought ‘I don’t even know some of these people’.

“I was out this morning and had a woman call me ‘the people’s champion’, before walking into Sight Cymru’s surgery and have them all clap for me. I’ve never seen anything like it.

“It’s not about me though. This is an award for the people I have represented and helped out. I won’t let it change me and will continue to help local people with local issues.”

Cllr Etheridge explained the next steps of the process, where he expects to receive a letter inviting him to Buckingham Palace or Windsor Castle for the ceremony in which he will be presented with an OBE.

“It’s all very formal with a lot of procedure in place. I’m quite looking forward to it actually. I’m proud to say I’m a working class lad.”

After announcing a terminal cancer diagnosis in September last year, Cllr Etheridge said he is still under the care of Velindre, but is “not complaining” and will “keep at it”.