Royal honours for county residents (From Western Telegraph)

Royal honours for county residents

THE Queen's Birthday Honours List includes four people from Pembrokeshire.

The Queen has awarded a CBE to Tenby businessman Philip Evans, while MBEs go to cheesemaker Sue Jones, of Llanboidy; five times mayor of Narberth, Eric Feetham and charity worker Margaret Jones, of Milford Haven.

Philip Evans, chairman of the Wales Tourist Board since April 2000, was awarded the honour for his services to tourism.

His company, the Vox Group Ltd, runs three holiday villages in Pembrokeshire.

His tourism-related companies now handle 75,000 clients a year, many with sporting and activity packages.

He sits on Visit Britain's board as an ex-officio member having previously sat as a board member from 1998.

External directorships include the Milford Docks Company and Llanelli Rugby Club and he is a governor of the University of Wales Institute, Cardiff, and a fellow of the Institute of Management. He is also chairman of the World Cup Amateur Golf Tournament.

A cheesemaker who has helped hoist Welsh farmhouse cheeses onto the world stage has been awarded an MBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours List.

Twenty years ago Sue Jones established Llanboidy Cheese as a means of adding value to the milk produced by her red poll herd.

The enterprise, based at her farm at Cilowen, Llanboidy, has expanded as demand has grown and it is now rated among Europe's most successful cheesemaking businesses.

Earlier this year, Llanboidy Cheese won two gold awards at the World Cheese Awards. The MBE was the icing on the cake, said Sue. "It has been an incredible year,'' she admits. "To be awarded the MBE so soon afterwards has been fantastic.''

As a director of Welsh Food Promotions she helped set up 'Caws', since renamed Cheeses From Wales..

A visit to the British Cheese Awards two years later proved to be a turning point for Welsh cheese when a number of Welsh producers joined forces and drew attention to themselves by displaying a huge Welsh flag.

Sue, who has just stood down as chairman of Cheeses From Wales, will be launching a new cheese in the Cilowen Organic range later this year.

Being awarded the MBE for services to the community of Narberth is the second cause for celebration this year for Eric Feetham, five times mayor of the town.

He has just marked his 80th birthday with a horse and carriage ride around his childhood haunts in Llawhaden and a surprise charity party, where guests donated £600 to Narberth Health Centre's diabetic clinic.

"I'm very pleased for myself and my family, but also for Narberth and all the people who do a lot to help me," said Mr Feetham, who ran the town's Spar Shop in High Street for 30 years.

He has been involved in local government since 1968, serving on Narberth UDC, South Pembrokeshire district council and Narberth Town Council.

He is a life member of Narberth Chamber of Trade, president and a founder member of Narberth Civic Week, chairman of Narberth Enhancement Committee and a member of the Queens Hall committee.

He is also an enthusiastic gardener, at home with his wife Doris at Springfield Park, Narberth, and in the town, where he plants and tends community floral displays, notably outside the Queen's Hall.

Mrs Margaret Myfanwy Jones, chairman of the Milford Haven Branch of Cancer Research UK Cymru, has been awarded the MBE for her services to the community in Pembrokeshire.

The 72-year-old Hakin grandmother, who has helped raised £270,000 for cancer research, has been involved in fundraising for more than 20 years.

She said: "I was absolutely thrilled to hear about the MBE. It is such a reward for doing something that makes such a difference.

"It is so wonderful actually doing things because you want to and thinking it is making an impression and helping others."

The former Elf refinery receptionist, who lost her husband, sister, father and mother-in-law to cancer, added: "I have put my heart and soul, 110% into cancer research. It is very, very close to my heart and I just want to see a cure."