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North Wales Live
14-06-2025
- Politics
- North Wales Live
North Wales MP knighted as mountaineering, fire and health stalwarts also recognised
More than 70 people from Wales who have contributed to their community and country are celebrated in His Majesty The King's Birthday Honours List 2025 today. They include the politician The Rt. Hon. Mark Richard Tami MP Member of Parliament for Alyn and Deeside who has been knighted for Political and Public Service. In total 1,215 recipients have been awarded for their exceptional achievements, with a particular focus this year on those who have given their time to public service. This year's recipients include dedicated community champions, role models in sport, pioneers in the arts, passionate health workers, and supporters of young people. Recipients from Wales make up 6% of the total number of recipients receiving honours this year. Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: 'This year's Birthday Honours List is a powerful reminder of the extraordinary dedication, compassion, and service that exists in every corner of our country. From community champions to cultural icons, each recipient reflects the very best of Britain. I extend my heartfelt congratulations and gratitude to them all.' Join the North Wales Live Whatsapp community now The Secretary of State for Wales, Jo Stevens MP, said: "Huge congratulations to the incredible individuals from Wales who have been recognised in The King's Birthday Honours List. Each award recipient has demonstrated dedication, passion, and commitment to their communities, making significant contributions that resonate far and wide. 'Your work in supporting vulnerable people, championing the arts, increasing access to sport and improving lives in countless ways, serves as an inspiration to all. Thank you for your exceptional service.' Notable recipients across Wales include: * Oliver Sykes, 36, of Denbigh, who receives an MBE for services to Access to the Arts for Underprivileged Young People. His work leading the Stories for Care programme has empowered over 5,000 young people from low income backgrounds, and given them access to literary works not normally available to them. * Muriel Morgan, who receives the British Empire Medal for services to the community in Wrexham. At the age of 88 years old she has only recently retired from her 50 year career in the Royal Voluntary Service (RVS). During her time in RVS she coordinated volunteer drivers to take elderly and vulnerable people to medical appointments they might not otherwise be able to make. She worked tirelessly throughout the pandemic to ensure the service was maintained and that even in one of the most challenging times for the service, their service users were still able to attend critical medical appointments. She would organise transport for service users with anywhere between four and nine volunteers, as a co-ordinator who considered her a friend and she has seen the service through challenges, including the pandemic where other volunteers had to retire. She has recently been instrumental in handling the service on to The Rainbow Foundation, so she can enjoy an incredibly deserved retirement. Other recipients from Wales include: * Louis William Hiatt, 40, of Gwynedd, is awarded the British Empire Medal for services to the community in Aberdyfi and Tywyn. His community work above and beyond his duties has considerably improved the recruitment and retention of retained firefighters in his locality. He located, fundraised for, and restored a fire engine once based at Aberdyfi Fire Station (his local station), which is 60 years old, and has now returned it to the station on public display. He has served as a retained firefighter for over 22 years. In 2023, he organised and hosted an open day at Aberdyfi Fire Station to celebrate 125 years of firefighting in the village. Approximately 2000 people came throughout the day. He and his crew work tirelessly to fundraise and have raised over £22,000 on behalf of The Firefighter's Charity to date. He is widely known in the Service and his community for 'getting involved' in fundraising and charitable efforts, his most notable and long-running community project is his chairing of a local pantomime group, Aberdyfi Players, raising over £700 annually. * Rebecca Ashcroft, 56, of Mold, is made a MBE For services to Mountain Rescue. The demand for mountain rescue callouts has surged from 15-20 jobs per year in the 1990s to 75-90 currently. She is a role model and mentor, breaking down barriers for women in the team, and her diversity policy has been adopted by other teams. She led the North East Wales Search and Rescue (NEWSAR) to become a Charitable Incorporated Organisation in 2020, utilising her knowledge of charity law, protocols, and procedures. She is a highly qualified Search Manager, recognised as one of the best in the UK. She has served as a Trustee since 2016 and as Chair since 2022 of NEWSAR. As the Trauma Incident Manager, she assists the public and supports team members who have experienced stressful and disturbing events during mountain rescue operations. She joined the Mountain Rescue team at the age of 17 in February 1986, having already been involved through volunteering with NEWSAR as part of her Bronze Duke of Edinburgh Award. * Simon Alistair Bareham, 65, of Bangor, , who is lately a Senior Specialist Adviser, Radioactivity and Industry Policy, is made an MBE For services to the Protection of Air Quality and Biodiversity in Wales. For 38 years of public service Simon has been a leading figure in the field of air pollution and its effects on the natural environment. He has led the way, highlighting the impacts of air pollution, which is one of the primary causes of wildlife loss and environmental degradation in Wales. He has secured action in Wales and across the UK to tackle the impacts of nitrogen deposition caused by ammonia and nitrogen oxide emissions from intensive farming practices and fossil fuels. As the inspirational Chair of the JNCC Interagency Air Pollution Group, he used his enthusiasm and professionalism to garner co-operation across the UK and Europe. Most notable has been his work and influence as chair of the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) Interagency Air Pollution Group for over 20 years. More recently, he worked to ensure the impacts of air pollution on biodiversity, protected and important ecological sites were included within the Environment (Air Quality and Soundscapes) (Wales) Act 2024. * Steven John Amor, Lately Watch Manager, Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service, is awarded the MBE for services to the community in Mid Wales(Llanwrtyd Wells, Powys). * Iain Keith Ashcroft, of Mold, who is Operations Officer of North Wales Mountain Rescue Association, gains the MBE for services to Mountain Rescue. * Ann Atkinson, of Corwen, opera singer and former Artistic Director of North Wales International Festival, is awarded the MBE for services to Music. * Victoria Poole, of Prestatyn, who is Deputy Chief Inspector, Care Inspectorate Wales, Welsh Government, is made an MBE for Public Service to Social Care. There are other recipients of honours across North Wales. Medallists of the Order of the British Empire are awarded to: * Roberta Morrall for services to the Arts in Nefyn * Joan Mary Vaughan for services to Older People and to the community in Conwy * Christopher David Williams for services to the community on Anglesey * Victoria May Williams for services to the community on Anglesey


Wales Online
13-06-2025
- Health
- Wales Online
Hard border between Wales and England to halt deadly disease could be 'costly and futile'
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Livestock farmers in Wales face hard border arrangements with England in what some believe is a futile attempt to halt the advance of a deadly disease. The industry fears being crippled by the need to test and licence vast numbers of sheep and cattle when they cross the border into England. Unlike England, Wales is still free of bluetongue, a viral disease that cause ulcers around the animal's mouth and face. In the Netherlands, tens of thousands of sheep have died and British farmers fear worse could happen in the UK. In an attempt to contain the virus' spread, an England-wide restricted zone (RZ) is to be imposed from July 1. In practice this means existing movement controls will be eased with farmer encouraged to use new bluetongue vaccines instead. The Welsh Government is reluctant to follow suit, fearing a freedom-of-movement regime will hasten bluetongue's spread into the country. Instead, Cardiff wants to keep the virus at bay 'for as long as we can' and so has opted not to apply an RZ in the county. But the Welsh farming sector has warned the implications could be 'catastrophic' for cross-border trade. Some 550 cross-border agri businesses and straddle the Wales-England border and each year tens of thousands of animals are shipped out to livestock markets. It also has major implications for July's Royal Welsh Show, Europe's largest agri showcase and the biggest annual event in Wales. Livestock exhibitors from England and Scotland will now be unable to attend, slashing the cattle entry by 40%. Refunds are being processed. Join the North Wales Live Whatsapp community now Urging Cardiff to align Wales with England, the industry has branded the looming arrangements as both 'a futile endeavour and wholly impractical'. FUW president Ian Rickman said farmers' first instincts were to keep any disease out of Wales – but in this case the solution could be economically disastrous. Mr Rickman said midges carrying the disease are likely to blow into Wales regardless of England's RZ. He said the insects 'do not respect any such boundaries' and the RZ will hasten the spread of bluetongue to Wales anyway. 'The on-farm practicalities involved with adhering to this policy position brings with it a wealth of barriers and complications,' he said. 'The mechanics of issuing licences in a timely manner, arranging and conducting pre-movement sampling and testing, co-ordinating haulage and the extortionate costs and disruption to cross-border holdings and trade – it is feared that the decision to hold back the tide will be entirely unattainable and impractical.' While Bluetongue serotype 3 (BTV-3) poses a serious threat to cattle, sheep, goats deer and alpacas across the UK, it does not affect humans or compromise food safety. Deputy First Minister Huw Irranca-Davies said he had agonised over the decision. On balance, it was the lesser of two evils, he said, adding: 'I cannot in all conscience invite Bluetongue into Wales on 1st July through aligning with the RZ in England. 'I am unwilling to risk the uncertain impact of the disease in livestock dense areas like the Welsh borders. I am also extremely concerned about the economic and farmer wellbeing impacts of dealing with sick animals, and the livestock productivity and fertility losses associated with severe Bluetongue, as observed in many affected European countries.' (Image: Fourrure/Wiki) By setting up border arrangements, it's hoped this will buy time for Welsh farmers to vaccinate their animals against the disease. If Bluetongue does arrive in Wales anyway, disease controls will be implemented. Being a fast-changing situation, Mr Irranca-Davies pledged to 'adapt to the evolving disease situation'. NFU Cymru president Aled Jones said Welsh farmers were 'extremely worried' about the disease - but also about the containment and testing strategy. He said: 'We have significant concerns about the lack of resources and testing capacity within the laboratories and APHA (Animal and Plant Health Agency) given the significant amount of stock that move across the border from England to Wales for management, welfare and trading purposes. 'We understand that going forward the costs of testing will be borne by the farmer, which will cause a huge increase to the cost of trading. Sign up for the North Wales Live newsletter sent twice daily to your inbox 'We are about to enter an extremely important time of the year in the farming calendar, with many farmers looking to trade breeding stock and store stock ahead of the autumn and winter months. 'For many herds and flocks, the opportunity to trade breeding stock, both those looking to purchase or sell stock, only comes once a year and this trade is critical. Welsh Government must ensure that a sustainable solution is found as soon as possible.' Find out what's happening near you


Wales Online
07-06-2025
- General
- Wales Online
Fire at ancient Anglesey church nearing end of £2.3m upgrade
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Concerns for an ancient Anglesey church were raised when smoke was seen billowing high into the sky. St Cybi's in Holyhead is undergoing extensive redevelopment and parishioners feared a fire could jeopardise next month's scheduled reopening. It's understood vandals set light to portaloos being used by workers refurbishing the church, which dates from the 6th century and is built into Holyhead's Roman wall. The fire spread to adjacent timber stacked ready for use inside the building. Smoke was seen rising from the churchyard at around 6.30pm on Thursday, June 5. Although firefighters extinguished the blaze before causing serious damage, it's believed a section of the church's exterior wall was left charred and blackened. This is expected to weather and disappear over time. "It could have been a lot worse," said one observer. St Cybi's and its adjacent 14th century chapel, Eglwys y Bedd, are currently being redeveloped as part of a £2.3m project funded by UK Levelling up money. The church will reopen as a 'more accessible' multi-use community hub with a social enterprise cafe. The chapel, built on the site of St Cybi's original cell, is being extended using Anglesey limestone, quarried in Moelfre. In the plans are some exciting innovations designed to appeal to a younger demographic. Five ancient churches in the Diocese of Bangor are being upgraded as part of the Llefa'r Cerrig - Stones Shout Out initiative. Air source heat pumps are being installed to provide underfloor heating, and solar panels placed on south-facing roofs. Join the North Wales Live Whatsapp community now St Cybi's is one of the five beneficiaries, with a shop and children's play area also planned. But the work hasn't been without controversy. Some parisioners were unhappy on learning that traditional old pews were being replaced by pews that can be moved to facilitate events and meetings. There was also anger over the transfer of St Cybi's organ to another church that can afford its estimated £200,000 repair bill. Critics claimed the heart of St Cybi's was being 'ripped out of it'. Meanwhile, the project timeline slipped when skeletal remains were discovered under the church and in the churchyard. In a pit beneath the chancel near the altar, a 'large collection of unarticulated human remains of unknown date' were found in summer 2023. They were buried beneath the church's 'Victorian layer', laid by architect Gilbert Scott during his reordering of the church in 1876-1879. It's suspected they had been reinterred, probably from multiple graves within the churchyard. All remains removed were due to be reinterred within the churchyard. Excitingly, other archaeological digs revealed what is believed to be part of the original footpath laid by Roman settlers at the site thousands of years ago. It's hoped St Cybi's can reopen in late July. North Wales Fire and Rescue Service and the Holy Island Ministry area were approached for a comment. Get the best island stories from our Anglesey newsletter - sent every Friday Find out what's happening near you