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Queen's honours: 100-year-old poppy seller leads Welsh list

Ron Jones is recognised for his volunteer work with the Royal British Legion.

Former prisoner of war Ron Jones, the 100-year-old who is Britain's oldest poppy seller, has been honoured in the Queen's birthday honours list.

Mr Jones, from Newport, has been awarded a British Empire Medal while Malcolm Walker, founder of Wales-based food store Iceland, has been knighted.

Former Welsh Assembly chief executive Claire Clancy has been made a dame.

Hilary Boulding, ex-principal of the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, is also given the title.

Former AM Peter Black becomes a CBE.

Harry Potter author JK Rowling, who went to comprehensive school in Chepstow, and celebrity chef Delia Smith, whose mother is Welsh, are awarded the Companion of Honour.

Getty Images Malcolm WalkerGetty Images
Malcolm Walker set up Iceland food store in 1970 and its headquarters is on Deeside in Flintshire

Mr Jones, from Bassaleg, was captured during the Second World War in the Middle East before arriving in Poland in October 1943. He was held in a prisoner of war camp a few hundred meters from the Monowitz concentration camp at Auschwitz.

He has sold poppies for 30 years and is chairman of the Royal British Legion's Bassaleg and Rhiwderin branch.

"I haven't a clue why I've been nominated, my poppy selling I expect," he said.

"I've done it for about 30 years, for two weeks a year. I've got nothing to do so sometimes I'm there selling all day.

"It takes me back to my days in the army and is my way of doing my bit. I'll go again this year if someone takes me, as long as I'm fit."

Former football international Michele Adams has been awarded an MBE.

Former Liberal Democrat AM, the former deputy minister in the assembly, and current Swansea councillor Mr Black receives a CBE for services to politics and public life in Wales.

Former Wales football international and Cardiff City Ladies manager Michele Adams has been awarded an MBE for her services to girls' and women's football in Wales.

"Seeing the youngsters you've helped coach reach the dizzy heights along the way is excellent," said the 59-year-old, who won five Welsh Cups during her record-breaking reign at Cardiff.

St. John Ambulance Angela O’SullivanSt. John Ambulance
Angela O’Sullivan of Aberdare gets an MBE after 40 years volnteering for St John's Ambulance

As Wales Under-19 girls coach, Miss Adams also helped nurture current Wales internationals Jess Fishlock, Tash Harding and Sophie Ingle.

"To know you have been part of their success story is great," she added. "This is the highlight but it is very much for them as well as it is for me."

Major Denis Burton, band master for the Regimental Band and Corps of Drums of The Royal Welsh, has been appointed an MBE.

The Pontypridd musician leads the armed forces band around the pitch before Wales' Six Nations games.

Army Major Denis BurtonArmy
Major Denis Burton is band master for the Regimental Band and Corps of Drums of The Royal Welsh at Wales Six Nations games

The full Welsh list of the 2016 Queen's Birthday Honours:

Knighthood

  • Malcolm Walker, chairman and chief executive of Iceland Frozen Food. For services to retailing, entrepreneurship and charity.

Dames Commander of the Order of the Bath

  • Claire Clancy, chief executive and clerk, National Assembly for Wales. For public service in Wales.

Dames Commander of the Order of the British Empire

  • Hilary Boulding, former principal of the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. For services to education and culture in Wales.

Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE)

  • Peter Black, councillor Swansea council. For services to politics and public life in Wales.
  • Dr Paul Phillips OBE, principal and chief executive of Weston College Group, Weston-super-Mare. For services to further and higher Education.
  • Professor Jean White, chief nursing officer of the Welsh Government. For services to nursing and midwifery in the UK and Europe.

Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE)

  • Catherine Mary Bennett, national director for Wales Equality and Human Rights Commission. For services to equality and human rights.
  • Christopher Dabiel, change and implementation group manager for the Department for Work and Pensions. For services to DWP and cancer charities.
  • John Richard Greenwood, chairman Rhyl RFC. For services to national and international rugby.
  • Martyn Lloyd-Evans, head of review unit, South Wales Police. For services to the serious crime review group.
  • Professor Malcolm Mason. For services to the NHS and cancer research.
  • Peter Meredith-Smith, associate director of employment relations, Royal College of Nursing (Wales). For services to nursing in Wales.
  • Helen Phillips, business change and delivery manager, Crown Prosecution Service Wales. For services to law and order.
  • Professor Lynda Warren, lately deputy chairwoman of Committee on Radioactive Waste Management. For services to environmental protection in the UK and abroad.
  • Dr Roisin Willmott. For services to planning in Wales.

Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE)

  • Michele Adams. former Wales under 19 and Cardiff City Ladies manager. For services to girls and women's Football in Wales.
  • Jennifer Barnes, for voluntary service to disabled people in Monmouthshire.
  • Dr Rachel Butler, for services to the development of genomics in Wales and across the UK.
  • Professor Thomas Crick, for services to computer science and the promotion of computer science education.
  • Bethan Harding, head teacher, Herbert Thompson primary school in Cardiff. For services to education.
  • Sally Hyman, chairwoman of trustees RSPCA Llys Nini Branch. For services to animal welfare and the environment.
  • Glynis James, head teacher Heronsbridge School in Bridgend. For services to special educational needs.
  • Clara Jones, for services to the Women's Institute and to the community.
  • Dr Ami Jones, national director of Wales' flying medics. For services to military and civilian critical care.
  • Denise Llewellyn, executive nurse director, Aneurin Bevan University Health Board. For services to nursing in Wales.
  • Alun Maddox, For services to charity and education.
  • Caroline Oakley, director of nursing (quality and patient experience), Hywel Dda University Health Board. For services to the nursing profession and NHS Wales.
  • Dr Simon O'Donovan, clinical lead, Young Onset Dementia Service, Cardiff and Vale University Health Board. For services to the development of mental health services for older people.
  • Angela O'Sullivan, county commissioner for Mid Glamorgan, St John Ambulance. For voluntary service to first aid.
  • Susan Phelps, operations director Wales, Alzheimer's Society. For services to people with dementia in Wales.
  • Mark Roscrow, director (Procurement Services), NHS Wales. For services to public healthcare procurement in Wales.
  • Wendy Sadler, for services to science, engineering communication and engagement.
  • Captain Winston Thomas, owner Pembrey Airport. For services to aviation in Wales.
  • Rev June Vaughan, for services to the community in Aberfan, young people and the Red Cross.
  • Mary Yapp, for services to art through the Albany Art Gallery, Cardiff and charitable services in Wales.

British Empire Medal (BEM)

  • Brenda Bryden, for voluntary service to Wrexham Maelor Hospital and the community in Wrexham.
  • Marian Jean Harris, musical director, Milford Haven Amateur Operatic Society. For services to music and amateur community theatre in Pembrokeshire.
  • Valerie James, for services to older people and the community.
  • Edward Jenkins, for services to the community in Dinas Powys.
  • Captain David Jones, for services to Anglo-German relations and World War II education.
  • Ron Jones, chairman Bassaleg and Rhiwderin Branch, Royal British Legion. For voluntary service to ex-service personnel and their families.
  • Ann Khoshbin, for services to education.
  • Noreen Lewis, lead nurse, Cardiff and Vale University Hospital Board. For services to haematology nursing in south Wales.
  • Glenys Raybould, founder Rhondda Breast Friends. For voluntary service to people with breast cancer.
  • Joan Bellis, for services to charity and the community
  • Susan Brook, for services to the community in Llanfrynach and Cantref.
  • Barbara Elliott, for services to young people, charity and the community in Llangattock and Crickhowell.
  • Anthony Hawkins, for voluntary service to disabled people in Ceredigion.
  • Harvey Lloyd, for services to the community, mountain rescue, mountaineering and heritage in Wales.
  • Roy William Palmer, for services to charity and the community.
  • Janet Parry, for services to the community and local government.
  • Clifford Powis, paramedic for the Welsh Ambulance Service NHS Trust. For services to emergency care.
  • Margaret Rees-Hughes, community non-officer Hywel Dda University Hospital Board. For services to the NHS in Wales.
  • Jeremy Roberts, deputy head teacher of Rhyl High School. For services to education and the community in Rhyl.
  • David Thomas, for services to charity in Africa and pastoral care in the fire service in Wales.
  • Carol Wheeler, for voluntary service to County Hospital, Pontypool.