KEY members of the community who offered support during the coronavirus pandemic have been named in the 2020 Queen's Birthday Honours.

Six people from Herefordshire have been named in the list, including Officers of the Order of the British Empire (OBEs) for two charity bosses.

Paul Taylor, who lives in Hereford, is the operations response manager for RE:ACT Disaster Response.

He's been recognised for services to humanitarian support during Covid-19, as he lead the Salisbury-based charity through the pandemic.

The charity's aim is to give direct humanitarian action, in the fastest time, for those hardest to reach and most vulnerable.

Chief executive of Hereford's Vennture charity Robert George Thomas will also recieve an OBE. He's been named in the list for services to the community in Herefordshire during Covid-19.

Vennture's work includes voluntary street pastors who provide help to those distressed or injured after a night out, and also supporting the homeless in the county.

In the list for Medallists of the Order of the British Empire (BEM) is Sonya Cary, postmistress at Pontrilas Post Office.

She's been recognised for services to the Post Office and the community during Covid-19.

Six other people from Herefordshire and the surrounding area have also been made Commanders of the Order of the British Empire (CBE). They are:

  • Philanthropist Adrian Humphrey Austen Osborn for services to Education, the Arts and charity (Munsley, Herefordshire)
  • Professor Michael David Peake. The Hon. Professor of Respiratory Medicine, University of Leicester and Lately Clinical Lead for Early Diagnosis, National Cancer Registration and Analysis Service, has been recognised for services to medicine (Hereford, Herefordshire)
  • Thomas William Higginson, who was formerly chairman and president of the British Association for Cricketers with Disabilities has been made a MBE for services to disability cricket (Presteigne, Powys)
  • Vincent Edward McNally has become a MBE for services to the community in Hereford (Hereford, Herefordshire)
  • Lt Col (Rtd) Michael Hugh Ledston Lewis, chair and fundraiser at armed forces charity SSAFA Powys has been recognised for charitable services (Brecon, Powys)
  • Christopher Jones, lately chief executive, of Dwr Cymru Welsh Water is now a CBE for services to the water industry in England and Wales (Brecon, Powys)

The Queen's birthday honours are normally announced in June, but were delayed until October 10 due to the coronavirus pandemic.