QUEEN HANDS RHIANNON HER MBE

Bristol's Clifton Down Shopping Centre's security officer Martyn Perrett watched proudly as his girlfriend Rhiannon Holder was presented with the MBE, which she was awarded for her voluntary work, in the New Year Honours.

The 22-year-old is one of the youngest people to be awarded an MBE and the couple, pictured, clearly enjoyed their historic day at Windsor Castle.

martinmbe Rhiannon received her award from The Queen who spent several minutes talking to her about her voluntary work and she and Martyn were given a tour of the castle.

Rhiannon's mum and dad joined the couple on their day out.

“It’s amazing, I’m so proud of her." said Martyn. "She has worked so hard and it really is amazing that she’s gained the award at such a young age,” said the 32-year-old who has been a member of the Clifton Down security team for the past three years and has been going out with Rhiannon for five years.

Rhiannon, from Lawrence Weston, has been volunteering since she was 15 and is particularly interested in helping teenagers deal with issues such as pregnancy.

Rhiannon started volunteering for the Bread Youth Project in St Werburghs, which gives advice to young people on a range of issues.

For three and a half years she served as the young adviser on the Government’s Teenage Pregnancy Independent Advisory Group.

She graduated from Bristol University with a first class honours degree in deaf studies last year, and works in two part-time jobs. One is for Brook Clinic in Unity Street, the other for South Gloucestershire Council.

Said Rhiannon: "I’ve always been very passionate about young people’s health and just because I’ve got an MBE doesn’t mean I’m going to stop. Teenage pregnancy rates are falling nationally but there is still a lot of work to do to give young people the sex education, clinics and services they need to make informed choices.”