Catherine Zeta Jones heads list of Welsh honours

Hollywood actress Catherine Zeta Jones heads the list of Welsh names honoured by the Queen with a CBE.

Zeta Jones, 40, who grew up around Mumbles, Swansea, said: "I am absolutely thrilled with this honour".

Composer Karl Jenkins, 66, also becomes a CBE, John Cale, 68, of Velvet Underground fame, an OBE, and ex-Wales football captain Gary Speed an MBE.

Grogg creater John Hughes, 76, of Pontypridd, gets an MBE.

Zeta Jones, who is honoured in the Queen's Birthday Honours list for her services to the film industry and to charity, married into a Hollywood dynasty when she tied the knot with actor and producer Michael Douglas in 2000.

Three years later she won the best supporting actress Oscar in 2003 for her role in the musical Chicago.

"As a British subject, I feel incredibly proud, at the same time it is overwhelming and humbling," she said.

She added: "And my mum and dad are delighted beyond belief."

Among the other recipients, the composer Karl Jenkins, 66, who was already an OBE, receives a CBE for services to music.

A product of Gowerton Grammar School who studied at the University of Wales, Cardiff, and the Royal Academy of Music, London, he was initially a jazz rock musician.

His works include In These Stones Horizons Sing, which was premiered at the opening of the Wales Millennium Centre before the Queen.

Roger Jones, from Gwynedd, a volunteer with Ogwen Valley Mountain Rescue team becomes an MBE.

Welsh Local Government Association chief executive Steve Thomas, of Ebbw Vale, Blaenau Gwent, is made a CBE for his services to local government.

Jean Kirkwood, of Swansea, receives an MBE for her services to visually impaired people in the city, as a founder of Swansea and Gower Talking Magazine and secretary since its inception in 1978.

Consultant clinical oncologist Dr Salah El-Sharkawi receives an MBE for his work at Swansea's South West Wales Cancer Centre.

Also in Swansea, broadcaster and entertainer Kevin Johns is given the MBE for his services for charity.

Among the people from mid Wales recognised with an honour is Professor Noel Lloyd, the vice-chancellor of Aberystwyth University, who receives a CBE for services to higher education in Wales.

Jean Chinnery is awarded an MBE for services to the community in Brecon, Powys, while district nurse Dorothy Cleaton-Davies, of Llandrindod Wells, is rewarded for services to healthcare with an MBE.

For services to the food and drink industry, Bethan Jones of True Food Marketing, in Llanymynech, near Welshpool, also receives an MBE, along with John Lloyd, for services to cycling in mid and north Wales.

In north east Wales, a stalwart of the Girls' Brigade has been honoured with an MBE.

Joyce Ledgard, 80, said she felt "honoured" and "humbled" to receive the award for her voluntary service to the Girls' Brigade in Caergwrle, near Wrexham.

She said: "I have been with the Girls' Brigade since 1946. Back then, there was a Boys' Brigade in the village and the girls wanted to know why they couldn't set up a company.

"I went on to be company captain for 30 years. I have retired now, but I'm still the company president.

"I feel so privileged, I simply can't believe it. It's wonderful."

Elsewhere, Carole Anne Roberts, of Ruthin, Denbighshire, is recognised with an MBE for services to North Wales Police.

Nicola Tustain, from Denbighshire, also receives an MBE for services to disability sport, particularly in the equestrian field.

Mario Franz Kreft, of Denbigh, chief executive of the Care Forum Wales, is awarded an MBE for services to social care.

On Anglesey, Barbara Ann Kinsella, 76, said she was "honoured" but "daunted" at being made an MBE.

Her community involvement goes back to 1966 when she was secretary of Cemaes Bay playing field association.

Mrs Kinsella still holds a position on Cemaes Bay lifeboat fundraising committee, is secretary of Cwmni Cemaes Cyf, a tourism and community organisation, and is local co-ordinator and driver for the local meals-on-wheels.

She said: "I'm just an ordinary person, and I just do things because I like to help people in the village, I'm just amazed my name has been put forward."