It's wonderful, but it came as a complete shock. I've no idea why I've got it now

Soccer veteran John Charles

The Canadian-based businessman - who becomes a Knight Bachelor - has been the driving force behind Wales's bid to hold the Ryder Cup in 2009 and its aim of ridding golf of its 'elitist' image.

Earlier this year, the Newbridge-born telecoms investor was named as the wealthiest person in Wales in the Sunday Times Rich List.

Last year his personal fortune was estimated at �1.7bn.

Former Wales and Leeds star John Charles, who was brought up in Cwmdu near Swansea, was known as the Gentle Giant during his playing days. picked up a CBE for services to Association Football.

Former soccer star John Charles : "shocked" to be honoured

The Cardiff-born sportsman - who became Britain's most successful soccer export in a five-year spell with Juventus in the late 1950s and early 1960s - said he was amazed to receive the honour so long after retiring.

"It's wonderful, but it came as a complete shock," he said. "I've no idea why I've got it now."

Also awarded the CBE was Judge Ramesh Singh, Commissioner for Racial Equality Wales, who was honoured for services to race equality issues; Professor Elan Closs Stephens, from the University of Wales, Aberystwyth, who received the award for services to the Welsh language; and Professor Nigel Clement Halley Stott, for services to primary care and general practice medicine.

Among those receiving the OBE were BBC Wales broadcaster Roy Noble.

Roy Noble : charity work

Originally from Brynaman, Carmarthenshire, west Wales, but now living in Aberdare, south Wales, he was the only member of the world of entertainment an d the media in Wales to be honoured this year.

He earned his award for services to the community and to charities in Wales.

A spokesman for BBC Wales said :"We are delighted that Roy has been recognised for his tireless work."

Others receiving OBEs included Graham Dyer, curator of the Royal Mint in Llantrisant, south Wales.

Several people from the health and caring professions also received the same honour.

They included Bob Broughton, Secretary of the British Medical Association in Wales; Fiona Peel, chair of Gwent Health Authority; and Mari Wyn Gruffydd, Director of Carers Outreach North West Wales.

Terry Matthews : fortune worth �1.7bn

Birthday honours lists traditionally include a handful of awards for "ordinary" people, not associated with any particular organisation. This year's include dog warden Sandra Thompson from Caerphilly, south Wales, who received her OBE for services to animal welfare.

THE HONOURS IN WALES

Knights Bachelor

Terence Hedley Matthews, OBE. For services to Industry and to Wales. (Newport, Gwent)

Commander of the British Empire

William John Charles. For services to Association Football (Bradford, West Yorkshire born Cardiff)

Judge Ramesh Singh. Commissioner for Racial Equality, Wales. For services to race equality (Cilfrew, Neath Port Talbot)

Professor Elan Closs Stephens. Professor of Communications and Creative Industries, University of Aberystwyth. For services to the Welsh language (Aberystwyth, Ceredigion)

Professor Nigel Clement Halley Stott. For services to primary care and general practice medicine (Gower, Swansea)

Order of the British Empire

Robert Bruce Knight Broughton. Welsh secretary, British Medical Association in Wales. For services to medicine (Whitchurch, Cardiff)

Patrick Dominic Bryon. Lead Assessor, National Professional Qualification for Headship. For services to Education in Wales (Llanishen, Cardiff)

Graham Patrick Dyer. Museum Curator, Royal Mint, Llantrisant (Cowbridge, The Vale of Glamorgan)

William Glyndwr Edmunds. Principal, Deeside College, Flintshire. For services to Further Education (Ruthin, Denbighshire)

Danny Fellows. Chairman, West Wales TEC. For services to Training and Employment (Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire)

Henry George Fetherstonhaugh. For services to the Forestry Commission. (Abergele, Clwyd)

Colin Leslie Jones. Lately secretary, Welsh Local Government Association. For services to Local Government (Cowbridge, The Vale of Glamorgan)

Professor Dylan Marc Jones. Professor, School of Psychology, University of Cardiff. For services to Military Science (Butetown, Cardiff)

Richard Owen Phillips Jones. Head, Amman Valley School, Ammanford. For services to Education (Pontarddulais, Swansea)

Norman Ralph Lowe. Managing director, Enviro Consulting. For services to the water industry and to environmental protection (Brecon, Powys)

Peter Morgan. Lately Deputy director in Wales, Employment Service, Department for Education and Employment (Llanelli, Carmarthenshire)

Andrew Nelson. Executive chairman, IQE. For services to the Electronics Industry. (Cowbridge, The Vale of Glamorgan)

Roy Noble.BBC Wales broadcaster. For services to the community and to charities in Wales (Aberdare, Rhondda Cynon Taff)

Mrs Fiona Natalie Peel. Chair, Gwent Health Authority. For services to the NHS (Cardiff)

John Leigh Phillips. For services to agriculture in Wales (Builth Wells, Powys)

Michael Anthony Widdrington. Senior Assembly Counsel, National Assembly for Wales (Cardiff)

Member of the British Empire

Miss Christine Atkinson. For services to the community in Flint Mountain, Flintshire (Flint, Flintshire)

Mrs Hazel Winifred Benjamin. For services to Disabled People and their Carers in Wales (Neath, Neath Port Talbot)

Philip Henry Berry. For services to the Llandough Hospital and the League of Friends, Vale of Glamorgan (Penarth, The Vale of Glamorgan)

Mrs Ann Bonner-Steel. For services to the Christian Education Movement Wales (Carmarthenshire)

Mrs Mary Elizabeth Brown. For services to the community in Powys (Llansantffraid ym Mechain, Powys)

Mrs Kathleen Doris Charles. For services to Health Care in Llanelli (Llanelli, Carmarthenshire)

Stephen Russell Collins. Relief Worker. For humanitarian services (Llanidloes, Powys)

Mrs Jean David. For services to the Citizens Advice Bureau and to the community in Barry, Vale of Glamorgan (Penarth, The Vale of Glamorgan)

Lisbeth David. For services to the community in Llandaff, Cardiff (Llandaff, Cardiff)

John Tudor Davies. For services to Music in north Wales (Johnstown, Wrexham)

Samuel Eifion Davies. Assistant director, Mental Health and Learning Disabilities, St David's Hospital, Carmarthenshire. For services to Health Care (Llandysul, Carmarthenshire)

Carwyn Rhys Davies. Postman. For charitable services in Romania. (Neath, west Glamorgan)

Mrs Frances Mary Day. For services to OXFAM in Newport, south Wales (Newport, Monmouthshire)

Gordon Green, TD. Hotelier. For services to Tourism in mid Wales (Llanwrtyd Wells, Powys)

Joseph John Glant Griffiths. Wildlife Ranger, Forestry Commission (Aberystwyth, Ceredigion)

Lawrence James Grove. Lately crew member, Horton and Port Eynon Inshore Lifeboat, RNLI. For services to maritime safety in Swansea and Gower (Gower, Swansea)

Mrs Mari Wyn Gruffydd. Director, Carers Outreach, North West Wales. For services to Carers (Bangor, Gwynedd)

David Dudley Hardy. Head, Messenger Service, Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency, Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions (Morriston, Swansea)

William David Reginald Herbert. For services to Local Government and to the community in Beaufort, south Wales (Ebbw Vale, Blaenau Gwent)

Evan Richard Hughes. Police constable, North Wales Police. For services to the police and to the community in Llandudno (Llandudno, Conwy)

Hugh Hughes. For services to the community, especially music, in Llandudno, north Wales (Llandudno, Conwy)

Miss Rhiannon Wyn Hughes. For services to the community in Denbighshire (Meliden, Denbighshire)

David Leighton James. For services to Business and to the community in Ynysybwl, Rhondda Cynon Taff (Pontypridd, south Wales)

Mrs Dyfanwen Jones. Macmillan Nurse. For services to Nursing and Cancer Care in Powys (Talgarth, Powys)

Iorwerth Watkin Jones. For services to the Industrial Railway Museum, Penrhyn Castle, Gwynedd(Bangor, Gwynedd)

John Ivor Jones. Paramedic, Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust. For services to Health Care (Aberystwyth, Ceredigion)

John Keith Moger. For services to the NHS in Wales (Whitchurch, Cardiff)

Mrs Pamela Jean Morgan. Community Nursing Sister, Morlais Medical Practice. For services to the community in Merthyr Tydfil, south Wales (Cefn Coed, Merthyr Tydfil)

Mrs Ann Ovenstone. Director, International Tortoise Association. For services to Chelonia (Sully, The Vale of Glamorgan)

Rhodri John Powell. For charitable services to the community in south Wales (Cardiff)

Mrs Annie Muriel Pritchard. For services to the community in Bangor (Bangor, Gwynedd)

Mrs Margaret Eleanor Read. For services to the community in Penarth, Vale of Glamorgan (Penarth, The Vale of Glamorgan)

Derrick James Rex. For services to the community in Cwmbran (Cwmbran, Torfaen)

Mrs Marilyn Roberts. For services to Local Government and to the community in Llanfaes and Powys(Brecon, Powys)

The Rev Canon Peter Clive Southerton. For charitable services to the community in Denbighshire (Prestatyn, Denbighshire)

The Rev John Anthony Stacy-Marks. Director, Amelia Methodist Trust Farm. For services to Young People in south Wales near Barry, Vale of Glamorgan)

Mrs Barbara Summons. For services to the community in Rosemarket, west Wales (Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire)

David William Thomas. For services to Disabled People in Swansea, south Wales (Norton, Swansea)

Miss Gaynor Elaine Thomas. Higher Executive Officer, National Assembly for Wales (Roath, Cardiff)

Mrs Sandra Thompson. Dog Warden. For services to Animal Welfare in Caerphilly, south Wales. (Blaenau Gwent, south Wales)

Mrs Judith Ann Williams. Wales Deputy director Support, Employment Service, Department for Education and Employment (Thornhill, Cardiff)

Miss Patricia Williams. Headteacher, Kitchener Primary School, Cardiff. For services to Education. (Penarth, Vale of Glamorgan)