A RHYL politician who is deputy presiding officer of the Senedd Cymru has been appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE).

Margaret Ann Jones, best known as Ann, was recognised in the 2021 New Year Honours for parliamentary and public service in Wales.

Ms Jones, who was brought up in Rhyl, where she has lived all her life, is the member of the Senedd (MS) for the Vale of Clwyd.

Before being elected to the assembly in 1999, Ms Jones served as a Rhyl Town councillor and was the town’s mayor in 1996/7.

She was also a Denbighshire County Councillor.

Ms Jones said: "I’m incredibly humbled to have been recognised in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours. From my first election back in 1992 to Rhyl Town Council, the only honour I’ve ever sought was to represent communities across the Vale of Clwyd.

“I’m enormously lucky that I’m able to use my position to speak up for people who need it the most.

"I’m proud to have introduced Wales first non-Government law to put life-saving sprinklers in every new home in Wales and to continue to speak out for disabled people – most recently in my role as the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association’s regional champion for parliamentarians with disabilities.

“This honour is a fitting recognition of the causes I continue to champion and I am very grateful to have been nominated”

Whilst championing her community, Ms Jones has worked 'tirelessly' with the Welsh Government to attract major investment to the area with real success.

During her time as the MS (previously known as assembly member), Ms Jones chaired several assembly committees; she was chair of the Children, Young People and Education Committee, the All Party Group on Deaf Issues and Chair of the National Assembly Labour Group.

Ms Jones successfully steered through the National Assembly legislation that requires all new homes to be fitted with sprinkler systems.

Before entering politics, Ms Jones spent much of her time following Rhyl Town Football Club and she remains a Lilywhites season ticket holder.

The honours system champions diversity at all levels and celebrates the breadth of service given by people from all backgrounds from across the UK.

Of the 1,239 people who receive an award: 1,123 candidates have been selected at BEM, MBE and OBE level.

397 at BEM

476 at MBE

250 at OBE

803 (65 per cent) of the recipients are people who have undertaken outstanding work in their communities either in a voluntary or paid capacity;

603 women are recognised in the List, representing 49 per cent of the total;

14.2 per cent of the successful candidates come from a BAME background;

6.9 per cent of the successful candidates consider themselves to have a disability (under the Equality Act 2010); and

4 per cent of recipients identified as being LGBT+.