The curator of Narberth Museum, Pauline Griffiths, has been awarded the British Empire Medal for services to heritage and to the community.

Mrs Griffiths, a former English teacher, has been involved with the museum for nearly 30 years - originally as a volunteer and then as curator since 1998.

After the museum lost its home in 2003, she and a group of hard-working volunteers pursued their vision to restore Narberth’s former Bonded Stores to house the collection.

The new museum eventually opened in 2012, with the project gaining support from the Heritage Lottery Fund and the Welsh Government, together with a lot of fundraising by the Friends Association.

In 2013, it was one of ten finalists in the prestigious Museum of the Year award and in 2014 it achieved full Accreditation status.

Mrs Griffiths said she was ‘proud and honoured’ to accept the BEM ‘on behalf of everyone at Narberth Museum who worked long and hard to save it from closure and make it what it is today.’

She added: “Museums, libraries, galleries and art centres are vital elements in the way a community sees itself, and need to be championed.”