Prolific community volunteer appointed MBE

Robyn Davies has been awarded an MBE for services to young people and to the community

A woman who has volunteered for a variety of good causes in Shropshire has been recognised in the King’s birthday honours.

Robyn Davies, 70, from Telford, has been appointed MBE for services to young people and to the community.

Ms Davies said she did not quite know what to say when she found out she had been given the honour.

“I was just stunned,” she said. “It took my breath away.”

Ms Davies is a former district governor covering more than 50 Rotary clubs in the Midlands, where she developed a youth leadership scheme.

An accomplished musician, she has volunteered with a number of organisations supporting homeless and vulnerable people in Telford.

'Great to be involved'

She is the voluntary musical director of Hadley & District Male Orpheus Choir, which is composed of a group of elderly men.

The choir has raised thousands of pounds for charities such as Blood Bikes and the Jayne Sargent Foundation.

She has mentored young people through her work with Rotary.

This includes speaking competitions, music competitions, writing competitions, cooking competitions and disability sports events.

Having been given the opportunity to take up music when she was younger, she said: “I realise the importance of giving young people the opportunities that we can through competition, through support, through sponsoring.

“It's gone beyond the music now. It involves all different arts and sport and leadership and everything else - it's great to be involved.”

Gareth Niblett has been awarded an OBE

Another Shropshire recipient is Gareth Niblett from Telford, who has been awarded an OBE.

He was recognised for his work on Operation Warm Welcome in August 2021, when the government accepted 15,000 Afghan refugees into the UK.

Mr Niblett was part of the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) "Incident and Crisis Response" team and arranged for DWP staff to "be the face of government".

He said they went to hotels where the refugees were staying, "ensuring citizens were safe, whilst offering support and advice".

The letter giving him the news of the honour left him "completely shocked", but he said: "It's rewarding and its good to know that the advice and the support that we can offer is appreciated."

Other recipients from the county include:

OBE

• Heather Ruth Keates, chief executive, Community Money Advice - for services to debt advice

• Jennifer (Jenny) Beatrice Wynn, for Charitable and Public Service

BEM

• Robert Vincent Davies, for services to the community in Bridgnorth