SEVERAL Monmouthshire residents have been honoured by the Queen in this week's birthday honours.

Chepstow vet John McEwen, from Tintern, is to receive Member of the British Empire (MBE) for services to equestrian sport. Dr McEwen spent a lot of his career at Cross Country Equine Clinic in Devauden and has worked with the British Showjumping and Dressage teams extensively. Dr McEwen has attended several Olympics, last year presenting winning riders with their bouquets.

Dr Anthony Calland, from Chepstow, is chairman of the British Medical Association Medical Ethics Committee and has also been awarded a Member of the British Empire medal (MBE) for services to healthcare and to the NHS in Wales.

Dr Calland has also stood as chairman of Welsh Council, chairman of the Welsh General Practitioners Committee and UK negotiator for the General Practitioners Committee.

His special interests include organ donation and information governance.

Mrs Jacqueline Gail Williams, co-founder of Caerwent Community Centre is to receive a British Empire Medal (BEM) for services to the community in Caerwent and former chief superintendent of Gwent Police, Andrew Adams has been awarded an MBE for services to law enforcement and public protection.

Two Raglan residents have been recognised for their charitable work with separate awards.

Dr Sandy Holt-Wilson is to receive an Order of the British Empire (OBE) for Ophthalmologist services to people in Ethiopia.

77-year-old Dr Holt-Wilson retired 12 years ago but was previously an eye surgeon in The Royal Gwent and Nevill Hall. Upon retiring, he travelled to Gondar in Ethiopia for five months where he conducted around 150 cataract operations after finding himself as the only qualified Ophthalmologist in an area of around 4.5 million people.

"I'm very pleased but there are a lot of other people involved," said Dr Holt-Wilson, who has since set up a charity called Gondar (Ethiopia) Eye Sight. The charity has worked to build a 24-bed eye hospital which is training new nurses and it is also providing a blind school with equipment and teacher training.

The initial funds for the charity came from an international grant from Abergavenny Rotary.

Julia Rennie of Puddle Ducks Nursery in Raglan is to receive a BEM for services to early years provision and for charitable services in Monmouthshire.

Also awarded for work across Monmouthshire were Mrs Anne White and Mr Christian Brown , both from Abergavenny. Mrs White will receive a BEM for voluntary service through Cancercareline and service to the community in Monmouthshire, and Mr Brown will receive an OBE for voluntary and charitable services to the community in Monmouthshire through his work with Abergavenny Volunteer Bureau.