Emergency staff receive honours

The chief fire officer in Somerset has been appointed CBE in the Queen's New Year Honours.

Paul Young, OBE, was rewarded for services to local government.

A Queen's Fire Service Medal was given to Robert Fyfe, the deputy chief fire officer of the Devon & Somerset Fire and Rescue Service.

And Robert John Beckley, the deputy chief constable of Avon and Somerset Police, was awarded a Queen's Police Medal.

Elsewhere, Dr Geoffrey Beard, of Bath, the co-founder of the Furniture History Society, was appointed OBE for services to heritage.

Ms Katherine Fiona Allenby, of Woolverton, formerly the chair of the British Athletes' Commission, was appointed MBE for services to sport.

And Arthur Ellis Gilbert was appointed MBE for charitable services in Burnham-on-Sea.

Ivor Powell, who still coaches the Team Bath football team, aged 91, also became an MBE.

The former miner, who was honoured for his services to sport, won 14 caps for Wales and played for Aston Villa and alongside Stanley Matthews for Blackpool during his playing career.

He has coached the Bath university side for more than 30 years and they now play in the BGB Premier Division.

Mr Powell, who lives in Chippenham, Wiltshire, said the award was "an honour and a privilege".

He said: "I'm 91 and I've still got something left in me to give."