Monmouth School celebrated the success of two former pupils over the New Year. 

Warren East, pictured right, who attended Monmouth School from 1973 to 1980, was awarded a CBE in the New Year's Honours List.  As former CEO of ARM Holdings plc, he is widely credited with building the company into one of the world's most successful tech businesses.

Its chips form part of billions of devices, including mobile phones and digital cameras. Aged 52, he retired in 2013, and now holds non-executive directorships with Dyson, BT and Rolls-Royce. On hearing of the award he said, "I led a very successful team at ARM, and this honour is as much for them as for me".

Richard Parks, pictured below, having trekked across Antarctica, has set a record for the fastest solo, unsupported and unassisted journey to the South Pole by a Briton. The former Wales and Newport Gwent Dragons flanker reached the South Pole at 05:24 GMT on Saturday 4 January.

The 1,150km (715 mile) journey took 29 days, 19 hours and 24 minutes. Afterwards, he said he was feeling weary and "happy, proud and grateful." In 2011, he achieved his world-record-breaking dream to reach seven summits and three poles in seven months in his 737 Challenge, raising £1m for Marie Curie Cancer Care.