Birthday honours: MBE for Aberdyfi's David Williams

David Williams has been a lifeboatman for more than 30 years

A Gwynedd man who has spent 40 years as voluntary rescuer has been given an MBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours list.

David Williams, 63, is lifeboat operations manager for the RNLI in Aberdyfi, and also leads the town's mountain search and rescue team.

Mr Williams, a community councillor and former mayor, works in his day job as a senior Snowdonia National Park warden.

"It's a reflection of the superb people I've been able to work with," he said of his honour.

He also paid tribute to "sympathetic and supportive" employers, saying they were "vital" to keeping the voluntary rescue services going.

'Stamina and drive'

RNLI chief executive Paul Boissier said: "In any coastal community, very few people have the stamina and drive to be both a lifeboat crewman and an active member of a mountain rescue team.

"David has played a key leadership role in his local community.

"He has authorised numerous launches of the lifeboat, found and trained a highly-skilled crew and integrated the lifeboat into the local community.

"His support and passion for both causes has been unstinting, and I am delighted he has been recognised with an MBE."

Meanwhile, Shirley Rogerson, from Holyhead, has been awarded the British Empire Medal for her fund raising work for the RNLI in Anglesey.