Among the many notable awards were CBEs for opera singer Bryn Terfel and former rugby international Gerald Davies.

Professor Teresa Rees has also been given a CBE for her work as Equal Opportunities Commissioner and in higher education.

Singing is my life and I hope all those who have attended my performances and enjoyed my singing, will share with me the joy of this honour Bryn Terfel

Gerald Davies, who played for London Welsh, Cardiff and the Barbarians, gained 46 caps in his distinguished rugby career.

The 57-year-old, who is originally from Llansaint in Carmarthenshire, said: "I gave up rugby some 20 years ago. I still keep in touch by writing for The Times and going to matches.

"But it seems that perhaps it's the work that I've done on behalf of young people for the Wales Youth Agency that this honour has come my way."

Prof Rees, a sociologist at Cardiff University, said: "I am pleased to be nominated in this way but really all the work in higher education and with equal opportunities has happened as a team member.

"There has always been a group of people and I have just been one of them."

She carried out the Welsh Assembly's review of student hardship, which led to the introduction of the Assembly Learning Grant.

Terfel, whose Faenol music festival in his native Gwynedd saw 20,000 people enjoying a three-day show over the August Bank Holiday, said: "I am deeply honoured to receive this award.

"In accepting it, I must acknowledge the heritage and musical traditions of Wales which inspired my choice of career.

"Singing is my life and I hope all those who have attended my performances and enjoyed my singing, will share with me the joy of this honour."

Scientific adviser

Gerald Davies gained 46 caps in his career

Other CBEs have been given to Ann Hemingway, from Usk, south east Wales, for her public sector work, and to Hywel Gwyn Jones, of PricewaterhouseCoopers for his business services.

The field of science has seen CBEs for Professor David Owens, for his work with diabetes, and John Alun Vaughan Pritchard for his role as chief scientific adviser with the Welsh Assembly.

Among the OBEs is one for child protection worker Carys Mair Graham, a consultant community paediatrician from Wrexham.

Community workers

The list has also honoured community workers up and down the country.

Margaret Higgins, a lollipop lady of Birchgrove, Cardiff, has been given an MBE for her 30 years of service.

Lollipop lady Margaret Higgins

And the list has also honoured people working in the fields of music, wildlife conservation and with the RNLI with MBEs awards going to Robert Jones of Conwy, David Saunders of Milford Haven and Francis George, formerly of Fishguard, respectively.

The communities of Oystermouth in Swansea, Ceredigion, Magor and Brechfa have been supported by MBEs for William Barrington, John Jones, Gwenyth Morgan and Roger Nock.

The work of Swansea's Gwyrosydd Junior School headteacher Geraint Williams has been noted with an MBE.

Cerebral palsy worker Gloria Watts and nurse Anwen Davies - both of whom are from Swansea - are also honoured for her chemotherapy work.