New Years Honours: Gloucestershire beekeeper praised

Mr Hewer has been looking after bees in Little Stoke for 10 years

A man who shares his love and knowledge of beekeeping with local children has been praised for his community work.

Timothy John Hewer from Gloucestershire received a British Empire Medal (BEM) for his services to Beekeeping.

For the past 10 years he has organised educational programmes, teaching children how to look after hives.

He said he loves how his bees look after each other and likened them to the work Little Stoke Social Club does to look after his community.

Mr Hewer shares his knowledge and passion for beekeeping with local children's groups

The 59-year-old is also an active committee member of the Bristol Branch of Avon Beekeepers Association, which owns a large apiary on Honeycombe Farm.

Mr Hewer recently secured a £700 grant used to buy 20 children-sized bee suits, and runs familiarisation courses at the Apiary for various school, scout and guide groups.

Through his work with the British Beekeepers Association he is also the area point for swarms in need of relocating, and has collected more than 40 over the last four years.

'Empowering veteran entrepreneurs'

Peter Mountford from Cheltenham was also included in the New Year Honours and appointed as an MBE for his Heropreneurs group which empowers veteran entrepreneurs.

The 66-year-old will stand down as the company's executive chairman after 13 years.

Since 2009, his company has supported people in military community with one-to-one mentoring.

He also chairs the Veterans Foundation, a charity which has raised over £18m via the Veterans' Lottery, enabling the distribution of grants to more than 350 charities.