A CEREMONY has been held to recognise three Brecon and Radnorshire residents who were recognised in the Queen’s Birthday honours.

Sue Brook, Barbara Elliot and Roy Palmer were all awarded British Empire Medals by the Lord Lieutenant of Powys Dame Shân Legge-Bourke in the Guildhall in Brecon.

The three were all included in the honours list which was released in June to mark the Queen’s official birthday.

Roy Palmer from Llandrindod Wells, who moved to the town over 50 years ago from Birmingham, has been actively involved with the Llandrindod-based cancer support charity the Bracken Trust, the Llandrindod Wells Leg Club, Holy Trinity Church and the Multiple Sclerosis Society.

Roy, who is 72, said: “It was a very nice ceremony actually, I really enjoyed. It was quite a humbling experience. Dame Shân was very nice, and it was lovely to meet the other two ladies who were also there.”

The retired factory owner, who enjoys gardening and trains, was recognised for his services to charity and the community.

Roy was nominated by his daughter Wendy who attended the ceremony along with his wife Ros, who has supported his help in the community, and his son Steven.

He said: “I was gobsmacked to be honest, especially as it was my own daughter who nominated me. I’m also proud that I was nominated, and that I got the BEM. It was nice, and it was nice that my daughter put me forward.

“We all went to Whetherspoons afterwards, well Dame Shân didn’t although she’s probably been there before – we did consider asking her.”

The small ceremony, which lasted between 30 and 45 minutes, was attended by 50 people which was made up mainly of family and friends.

Also in attendance was Brecon mayor Cllr Ieuan Williams.

Sue Brook, who has lived at Cantref near Brecon for 25 years with her husband Kim, was given the BEM for her services to the community in Llanfrynach and Cantref.

The former journalist and broadcaster used her skills to enable the community to record the history of their part of the Brecon Beacons.

Where We Belong – Life in the Beacons Then and Now, the book she edited on behalf of Llanfrynach and Cantref Womens’ Institute, has become a very popular edition with those interested in the area’s social history.

The president of the local WI since 2009 has also served on Llanfrynach Community Council, chaired the Community Hall Charity as the hall went through major rejuvenation and she has compiled and edited the community council newsletter which is also called Where We Belong.

Sue, who is 70, said: “Shân is a star turn in her own right. It was tremendously special to receive it from her and she did it with great warmth and ease – it was a brilliant occasion and it was the first one in the Guildhall I believe.

“I had already met Shân because I interviewed her a few years ago at Christ College to raise money for Usk House [St David’s Hospice] of which I’m a great supporter.”

Sue, who has rented out a self-catering cottage with her husband Kim half way up Pen- y Fan for over 20 years, was also part of a community-project in 2011 to reopen and look after the Ty Bach Llanfrynach loos after their closure by Powys County Council.

The stepmother and grandmother, who thinks Cantref is “one of the finest communities”, said that they realised how important the public loos were to the area after they were closed and that she still cleans them every other Tuesday.

Sue said: “The reason I really appreciate being awarded the BEM is because it is from the community. So many aspects of the community came together and supported me, instead of it coming from higher up, so that I could have it. It really does mean a lot to me.”

Barbara Elliot was also awarded a BEM for her services to young people, charity and the community in Llangattock where she lives and the nearby village Crickhowell. Barbara, who is 75, has volunteered with the cancer charity Marie Curie and worked as their fund-raising co-ordinator for South East Wales over to Hay-on-Wye for many years.

She said: “The ceremony was very memorable and it was so surreal to be there. I’m absolutely delighted to have received the BEM for what I’ve done over the years. It’s been very rewarding, very successful and something I’ve enjoyed.”

Previously the secretary of Llangattock Community Hall for ten years, she was also on the NCPCC committee for the Crickhowell branch with Dame Shân.

The mother of one has also played piano voluntarily at the Oaklands retirement home in Llangynidr once a fortnight for 13 years, and she is a supporter of Vision of Hope at The Wenallt Farm in Gilwern.

Talking about Vision of Hope, she said: “It’s near Abergavenny, and it’s a working farm where ex-criminals can go after their sentences, or people coming off the streets can go – it’s sort of an inbetween home before going back into the community.”

The farm offers its residents the chance to do physical work, such as looking after the animals, and the opportunity to do college courses.