Charity and dance women honoured

The Gay Harris Dancers have raised thousands of pounds for charity

The founder of a charity for families of murder victims and a dance troupe organiser and are among north Walians named in the New Year Honours.

Dee Edwards, 48, from Cwm-y-Glo, Gwynedd, who co-founded Mothers Against Murder and Aggression, becomes an MBE.

Gabrielle (Gay) Harris, 78, from Rhyl, Denbighshire also receives an MBE for dedicating her life to youngsters in the Gay Harris Dancers.

Another MBE is Linda Johnson, for work for palliative care in Flintshire.

Ms Edwards formed Mothers Against Murder and Aggression (Mamaa) with her friend Lyn Costello, of Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, after the pair were shocked by the murder of two-year-old James Bulger on Merseyside in 1993. Ms Costello also receives the MBE.

Over the past 15 years, the registered charity has offered help to the families and friends of murder victims, and Mrs Edwards said the charity had so far helped more than 600 families.

The charity helps train police family liaison officers and can offer support to families for many years after their bereavement.

Mrs Edwards spends much of her time advising school children of the dangers of carrying weapons.

She received a local heroes award from the Home Office in 2005 in recognition of her work against gun and knife crime.

Delighted with her latest honour - for services to the vulnerable - she said: "I'm still trying to take it in really. It's a massive honour, but a huge shock.

"My eight-year-old daughter was so pleased with the news, she's learned to play God Save the Queen on her trumpet.

On call

"One the one hand, I think, 'Oh my God, I'm getting an award because peoples' kids are getting murdered,' but of course that's not the case.

"We've worked very hard, and we're on call 24 hours a day.

"I would dedicate this award to all the families I have worked with and those I will work with in the future, because sadly there will be more."

We try to teach the children that it's not about fame or fortune, it's about joy and discipline, and loyalty Gay Harris, dance teacher

Mrs Edwards said she would like to spend more time educating children in Wales, to ensure pupils in rural areas receive the same warnings about weapons as those in cities.

She added: "I'd also like to thank the people in my home village, Cwm-y-Glo, and the surrounding villages. I'm away a lot and the local people offer me amazing support.

"They're willing to drop everything and muck in to help look after my children whenever needed - they've been a tremendous support."

In Rhyl, former Tiller girl Gay Harris has been awarded an MBE for services to dance.

She formed the Gay Harris Dancers more than 40 years ago and, with the help of her daughter Adele, has taught thousands of youngsters.

The troupe was formed on the principle that all young people, whatever their background, should have the opportunity to develop their skills.

Shows staged at the Pavilion Theatre in Rhyl have raised thousands of pounds for local charities

She said: "I'm obviously honoured and very proud, but I would really like to accept the award on behalf of everyone who has been there for us over the past 40 years.

Shirley Bellis is joint organiser of the WRVS emergency services team in Conwy

"I really wouldn't have been able to do it on my own."

She added: "Over the years I suppose we have had thousands of children. Then the children of those children come back, and we always have a waiting list.

"We try to teach the children that it's not about fame or fortune, it's about joy and discipline, and loyalty."

Other MBEs include journalist Mike McEvoy, who has worked for BBC Wales as well as HTV in the 1960s and 70s. He also served for six years with the Welsh Consumer Council, as wells as being a founder chairman of the NHS Complaints Panel for Wales.

Valerie Frances Norman also becomes MBE for service to the Samaritans in Bangor, along with Sophia Drew, for community service in Prestatyn and Ray Manning for work in the community in Benllech on Anglesey.

The same honour goes to Shirley Bellis, 73, who has run a weekly lunch club for the elderly in Rhos on Sea for 30 years and delivers meals-on-wheels at Colwyn Bay,.

Stephen Bristow, joint proprietor of Greenwood Forest Park in Snowdonia, also becomes MBE for his services to the tourism industry.

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