A NUMBER of Monmouthshire residents have been rewarded for their contributions in the Queen’s New Year Honours.

Dr David Steiner, founder of Monmouth-based charity Hands Around the World (HATW), has been awarded an OBE for humanitarian services to disadvantaged children abroad.

Jersey-born Dr Steiner, who worked on the island for many years as a GP, now lives in Mitchel Troy and has been recognised for his work helping disadvantaged young people in Africa and India with the charity.

Hands Around The World, which celebrated its 21st birthday last August, was founded by Dr Steiner and his wife Lynda after a year-long trip to Zambia in 1993.

The charity concentrates on working with local communities to develop educational and health care initiatives, and is run in the UK mainly by a team of dedicated volunteers.

Also on the list of honours is Monmouthshire County Council leader Councillor Peter Fox, who was awarded an OBE for services to the Cardiff Capital Region. 

Cllr Fox has been a Monmouthshire county councillor for 19 years and leader of the council for the past eight years. In 2013 he was appointed as a member of the Cardiff Capital Region Board and following this he was appointed as vice-chairman of the Cardiff Capital Region Transitional Advisory Panel. He is now vice-chairman of the Cardiff Capital Region Shadow Cabinet.

Chief executive of the council Paul Matthews said: “I have had the pleasure of working with hundreds of councillors dedicated to their place and community. Peter is something else, quite unique. He loves his village, his county and his country and does his best to make things better at every level. He is a husband, a father and a very proud farmer. His dedication and commitment are without parallel. 

“His infectious personality helps him to transcend political divides making him an incredibly popular and effective figure in the public life of Wales. His warmth and humour is never too far from the surface even in the most serious of moments. He is an absolute pleasure to work with and I am delighted for him and for his family who I am sure will be feeling very proud of him.”

David Davies MP added: “I am absolutely delighted with this news. Peter has worked tirelessly for Monmouthshire for many years and it is great that his efforts have finally been recognised.”

Head of Emergency Planning at the Aneurin Bevan University Health Board Wendy Warren has been awarded an MBE.

Ms Warren, who lives in Usk, was rewarded for services to emergency planning and health protection.

Also on the honours list are Monmouth’s Patricia Dodd, chief methodology officer with the UK Statistics Authority, who receives an MBE for services to statistics and research and Theresa Thomas, a medical assessment unit staff nurse with Aneurin Bevan University Health Board, who receives a British Empire Medal for services to nursing care in Gwent.