Shropshire and Mid Wales people recognised in New Year's Honours

A string of unsung heroes across the region have been rewarded for their commitment and honoured for their services to the community, higher education, defence and tennis.

Shropshire's Cathie Sabin, who became the first female president of the Lawn Tennis Association, was one of two recipients in the region to receive an OBE.

The 68-year-old, who lives in Much Wenlock, was honoured for her services to tennis, recognising her work to promote the importance of coaches and encourage people to pick up a racket whenever they can.

The former schoolteacher, who taught PE at Shifnal's Idsall School, first joined Bridgnorth Tennis Club in 1973, becoming ladies' captain.

As a founder trustee of the William Penny Brookes Foundation, promoting cultural and sporting opportunities for young people, she was later elected to the LTA Council in 2000 and has served on a number of committees.

"I was completely stunned when I heard but I'm absolutely thrilled," she said.

"It recognises the work all the volunteers do for British tennis. It all started with Bridgnorth Tennis Club. You never really expect anything like this to happen."

An OBE was also given to Jane Tomkinson, of Whitchurch, who is the chief executive of Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. She received the honour for services to NHS financial management.

The co-founder of a national charity for the deaf was one of a handful of people from the region who received an MBE.

Susan Broughton was honoured for her services to children with special educational needs.

The grandmother-of-one, of Osprey Grove, Apley, qualified as a teacher for the deaf in the 1970s and co-founded Delta – Deaf Education through Listening and Talking – in 1980 to help improve educational outcomes for deaf people.

The charity has since helped around 1,000 families across the UK.

The 66-year-old, who is a trustee and former chairwoman of the organisation, said she was "astonished" when she found out about the award.

She said: "I hadn't got any idea it would happen. Although I am very honoured, everything we do in Delta we do together as a team."

Mrs Broughton, whose younger sister Diane Lewis is deaf, had previously worked as an infants' teacher in London but came to work in Shropshire as a teacher for the deaf in the 1980s.

Mrs Broughton has also helped to train and advise teachers of the deaf overseas and the charity organises meetings for families across the country who want to help their deaf children listen and talk, as well as running summer schools.

Also picking up an MBE for voluntary and public service to the community in Shrewsbury and Shropshire was Philippa Griffith, of Corwen, Denbighshire, together with Patrick Borer, of Oswestry, for services to architecture.

Anthony Burgess, of Newport, who is chairman of Harper Adams University Development Trust, received an MBE for services to higher education governance and fundraising. The retired managing director joined the board of governors of the University College in November 1978 as a co-opted member and was chairman of governors from 1998 to 2003.

University bosses said he had led the Development Trust through a successful period of growth and since 2006 the value of scholarships sponsorship secured by the trust has risen from £17,500 to £290,000.

It has also raised more than £3 million in the same period towards capital developments on the campus.

Over the Shropshire border, Jacqui Oatley, of Codsall, who was the first woman commentator on Match of the Day, also received an MBE for services to sports broadcasting. The Wolves fan also fronted the BBC's coverage of the Women's World Cup this year.

Meanwhile, former Wellington town councillor Graham Riley was honoured with a British Empire Medal for services to the community in Shropshire.

The 72-year-old, who served as a councillor between 2002 and 2014 and was mayor of the town three times, got heavily involved in voluntary work after retiring from his job as an engineer.

He started volunteering at the Severn Hospice in 1998 and helps in the hospice's day centre in Wellington.

Mr Riley, of Appledore Gardens, Wellington, said: "The mother of one of my best friends passed away in the hospice 20 years ago and we both said when we retired we would go and work for the hospice.

"I was lucky enough to be able to retire at 55 so I decided I would get involved in voluntary work."

He is also involved with the Shropshire Kidney Patients' Association and Shropshire Prostate Cancer Support Group – two causes he helped to raise funds for during his time as mayor – and is a governor member of South Stafford and Shropshire Mental Health Trust.

Speaking about his New Year's honour, Mr Riley added: "It came out of the blue. I'm over the moon. It's such an honour. Being mayor of Wellington three times has also been an honour. This is the cherry on the icing of the cake."

Others who were awarded the British Empire Medal for services to the community included Cy Jones, of Ludlow; Robert Pither, of Shrewsbury and Freda Ridgway, of Whitchurch.

Councillor Roger Bright, of Knighton, Powys, picked up a British Empire Medal for voluntary service to the community in Knighton and Powys and Thomas Roberts, for voluntary service to the community in Llangollen.

Helen Francis, of Oswestry, received the same accolade for charitable services in Trefonen.