Four Caerphilly County Borough residents will receive the British Empire Medal after being named on The Queen’s New Year’s Honours list.
Rita Evans, 76 of Abercarn, was honoured for voluntary service in the community, after she first set up a play group in the village nearly 50 years ago.
She has since given her time to the Citizen’s Advice Bureau and is chair of the Newbridge and District Cancer Research Committee, having been a member for 15 years.
Mrs Evans, who was named volunteer of the year at a council awards in 2013, has also helped organise fundraising for the renovation of Newbridge Memo.
She also volunteers at the Bridging the Gap community café at Abercarn Library.
She said: “It started nearly 50 years ago when we started a play group in Abercarn as the children didn’t have any facilities.
“The volunteering is all different things and I’ve met people who would deserve the medal just as much as me.”
The composer and musical director of Aber Valley Male Voice Choir, Geraint Evans, is to be given the medal for services to music and charity.
The 68-year-old from Caerphilly has been part of the choir for 44 years and was made conductor when he was just 25.
He has conducted 1,100 concerts across the world and was a teacher at the former Lansbury Park Junior School.
Mr Evans said: “I’m quite amazed at the fact I’ve been awarded this, I’m very
surprised. Really I’m just a conductor, the honour is for the choir as well as myself.”
Caerphilly MP Wayne David, the president of the choir, said: “I am delighted that Geraint has been recognised.
“He is a superb musical director and under his leadership the choir has consistently achieved a high standard of performance and done an enormous amount of work for charity.”
Thomas Lewis of Risca will be honoured for services to music and the community, having taught music and fixed instruments since he was 40.
The 85-year-old continues to teach older people to play and plays regularly in quartets and quintets, as well as fixing instruments and giving free tuition at home.
He said: “I’ve played the flute since I was 14. I was roped into the Malpas Home Guard band so was in Dad’s Army four years before I was called into the real army.
“I’m delighted but I wonder how I came to get the honour. I’m quite an ordinary person.”
His wife, Jean Lewis, said: “People have been ringing up and saying it’s about time he was honoured. Everybody’s been so lovely.”
Oakdale resident David Curtis will receive the medal for voluntary and charitable services to the community in Caerphilly County Borough.
The 62-year-old was District Governor for the Rotary in South Wales for 2013 to 2014 and has been part of the Rotary Pontllanfraith club for 24 years, helping raise between £18,000 and £20,000 a year for charity.
He is also four-times British and ten-times Welsh trampoline champion and has won three silver medals in world championships.
Mr Curtis and his wife Marian travelled to India in November 2013 with the Rotary Club, helping to administer polio vaccinations.
In March 2014 the World Health Organisation announced India polio free.
Speaking about the medal, Mr Curtis said: “I’m shocked really, it came out of the blue, it’s a total surprise. It’s great to receive it.”