Honour for bicycle museum founder

Mr Higman said it was an honour to receive an MBE

A man who used his collection of bicycles to open a museum 10 years ago has been given an MBE for his services to tourism.

David Higman, curator of the National Cycle Museum in Llandrindod Wells, Powys, has been recognised in the Queen's New Year's Honours List.

Mr Higman, 66, brought his historic cycle collection to the Grade II-listed Automobile Palace building in 1997.

He currently has 250 machines on display, some dating from 1818.

Cycling artefacts, components and costumes are also on display.

It is a great honour for me to receive an MBE David Higman

Mr Higman, who lives in Oswestry, Shropshire, said he was nominated for his award by the museum's board of trustees.

"It is a great honour for me to receive an MBE," said Mr Higman.

"The museum was made to feel welcome when it moved to Llandrindod Wells and it was a good decision to locate the national collection there."

Two men have been recognised for their work with Red Kites

Elsewhere in mid Wales, Hywel Pritchard Jones, chief executive of Mudiad Ysgolion Meithrin, an organisation caring for pre-school children which is based in Aberystwyth, receives an OBE for services to education and to the Welsh language.

Europe's victorious Ryder Cup captain Ian Woosnam receives an OBE.

Meanwhile, Peter Walters Davies, from Aberystwyth, and Peter Davis, from Aberaeron, are awarded MBEs for services to Red Kite Conservation in Wales.