The New Year’s Honours List saw a Towy Valley resident chosen for a special award.

Compliance manager at Strategic Shipping Ltd, Bernadette Peers splits her time between Llandovery and Birmingham and has been awarded an MBE for services to export control.

The 58-year-old has been in the industry for 24 years and has worked for her current employers for 14 years.

Throughout her career, Bernadette has worked for the government, spent 13 years as a constable with the Metropolitan Police and was also involved in the cadets.

There was an element of confusion when Bernadette first opened her letter of recognition.

“At the time I was in the process of nominating someone else for an MBE award,” she said.

“I read the letter back and then I put it away until I was less busy, so I could read it properly.

“When I went back to read it, it threw me when it said that I had been awarded an MBE.

“I re-read the letter and then I felt completely shocked.”

Bernadette is expected to receive her award at a ceremony within the next seven months.

Partner David Maloney said: “I am very proud of her.

“It was a lovely surprise for Bernadette, but she always does her job to the best of her ability.”

Strategic Shipping Ltd Director Peter O’Rorke said: “We’re both proud and delighted that Bernadette has been honoured for the work she has done.

“Her unique communication skills have made her efforts to explain, train and guide international businesses through the challenges of export control have made her a popular speaker all around the world.

“Her MBE provides validation and recognition of those talents and the benefits to UK business and society.

"We couldn’t be happier for her.”

Despite being presented with the outstanding honour, Bernadette will be retiring in July this year.

She said: “I am looking forward to living permanently in Llandovery and enjoying life.

“I am planning on learning Welsh and doing some charity work with animals.”