Local Birthday Honours
Abergavenny Chronicle - 17th June 2004

LAURA PIKE REPORTS

AMONG the great and the good honoured in this year’s Queen’s Birthday Honours List were four local unsung heroes. From the world of music, to nursing, industrial relations and the police force, the pioneering quartet joined a host of prominent figures recognised for their tireless work and dedication. Gwent Police’s Deputy Chief Constable, Bryan Davies, received the Queen’s Police Medal.

Mr Davies grew up in Brecon but now lives in Abergavenny with his wife Dina and daughter Rachel.

“I am surprised and greatly honoured by the award,” he said.

“I consider it not just as an award for myself, but for the hard work, commitment and professionalism of colleagues, both paid and unpaid in Heddlu Gwent Police as well as those within the Criminal Justice Services and other partners within the crime and disorder environment.

“All of these have, over the years, dedicated themselves to making a difference and enabling Gwent to become a safer place to live, work and visit. In some small way I hope I have assisted this process and will be able to continue to do so for the foreseeable future”.

Mr Davies joined the Mid Wales Constabulary, which later became part of Dyfed Powys Police, in 1966 as a cadet. In 1974, he transferred to Gwent and after moving through the ranks, became Chief Superintendent in 1988.

In 1997 he began a two-year secondment as Deputy Commissioner of Police for the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands in the Caribbean but returned to Gwent in 1999 before being appointed Deputy Chief Constable in January 2001.

He holds a Bachelor of Science degree, a Diploma in Applied Social Science and is a Fellow of the Chartered Management Institute.

“The unstinting support of my family and friends cannot go unmentioned as they have contributed to this award in their own important and special way and I wish to thank them all,” added Mr Davies.

Crickhowell’s David Jenkins was made an OBE for his services to industrial relations. The 55 year-old was General Secretary of the Wales TUC for over 20 years and said he was ‘delighted’ to receive the award.

“I see the award as a reward for all the hard work the TUC has done over the last 20 years in improving industrial relations,” he said.

Mr Jenkins, who is married with three children, became the first General Secretary of the Wales TUC in 1983. During his 20 years as leader, he was also appointed to a number of key organisations, including the Employment Appeals Tribunal and the Competition Commission, formerly known as the Monopolies and Mergers Commission.

He was awarded the MBE in 1993, also for services to industrial relations, and continues to be chair of the Wales Cooperative Centre, the most successful voluntary sector economic development body in the UK.

He is also chair of Opportunity Wales, one of the country’s most prestigious Objective One projects, and has recently been appointed as chair of Health Professions Wales abd the Blaenau Gwent Advisory Board.

Formerly from Cardiff, Mr Jenkins moved to Crickhowell two weeks ago and said he was ‘looking forward’ to contributing to the local community.

Joyce Knowles, also of Crickhowell, was awarded an MBE for services to nursing. Mrs Knowles, aged 63, retired from nursing at the end of March and was ‘completely shocked’ on hearing of her award.

“I feel very honoured and it’s nice to think my colleagues proposed me for this award,” she said.

“The shock is still sinking in but I’m glad that nursing as a profession has been recognised.

“I certainly couldn’t have done this on my own so this award is a credit to everyone I have worked with”.

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