Queen's Birthday Honours: Shane Williams receives MBE

Wales' record try-scorer Shane Williams lands an MBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours

Record Wales international try-scorer Shane Williams has received an MBE for his services to rugby in the Queen's Birthday Honours.

The award comes as the 35-year-old wing prepares to come out of short-lived retirement to play for a Japanese club.

Former Welsh national athletics coach Malcolm Arnold receives an OBE.

Manon Williams, former private secretary to the Prince of Wales, becomes Lieutenant of the Royal Victorian Order (LVO).

Shane Williams, a double Grand Slam winner, announced his retirement from rugby in February.

Dr Manon Williams worked for Prince Charles from 2004 until leaving earlier this year

He declined an offer to stay at the Welsh regional side the Ospreys for a 10th season, but this week surprised the rugby world by confirming he will play for Mitsubishi Dynaboars in Division Two of the Japanese League on a one-year deal next season.

His MBE puts him alongside former England goalkeeper David James in this year's honours and world number one golfer Luke Donald.

Manon Williams is already a member of the Royal Victorian Order.

Dr Williams, whose sister Ffion is married to the former Welsh Secretary and Conservative Party leader William Hague, left her post as private secretary to the Prince of Wales earlier this year.

The lord lieutenant of Clwyd, Trefor Glyn Jones, CBE, becomes a Commander of the Royal Victorian Order.

Among academics in Wales being honoured are Prof Stuart Cole, professor of transport at the University of Glamorgan, and Prof Ian Hargreaves, professor of digital economy at Cardiff University, and a former editor of the Independent and the New Statesman. Both are made CBE.

Gwent Police chief constable Carmel Napier receives the Queen's Police Medal

Another CBE is Ron Jones, executive chairman of Tinopolis. The Carmarthenshire-based media production firm is behind programmes such as BBC One's flagship political discussion programme Question Time and is also a major contributor to the Welsh-language television channel S4C.

Seventeen people from Wales receive a British Empire Medal, or BEM, newly restored as an honour by Prime Minister David Cameron.

Among them are 83-year-old Yvonne Whitley, from Beaumaris, Anglesey, who has volunteered with the National Trust for 36 years and for the Samaritans for 25 years.

Dublin-born Mrs Whitley has worked as receptionist and guide at Plas Newydd country park and house.

She said: "My children were growing up and I thought I would like to do something."

An MBE goes to retired bicycle shop owner Les Jones, 81, from Llanidloes, Powys, who has raised nearly £120,000 for the Children's Hospital for Wales.

One of the oldest to be honoured is 92-year-old Iori Lewis, president of Aberystwyth's Royal British Legion branch, who receives a BEM.

Gwent Police chief constable Carmel Napier is one two police officers in Wales to receive the Queen's Police Medal. There other is Sgt Sian Lewis-Williams, of South Wales Police.