FOUR personnel from RAF St Mawgan have received New Year honours list.

Susan Ashman, the works office supervisor, receives a Commendation by the Air Officer Commanding 3 Group. Her post is an extremely challenging appointment, requiring tact, patience and innovation. Mrs Ashman fills a crucial role, interfacing between the establishment works consultant and the works service manager for the day-to-day management of works requests.

In a relatively short period of time, the entire staffs within the flight changed and new National Audit Office-driven procedures for the processing of works requests had to be implemented at very short notice, but Mrs Ashman's commitment was pivotal and she displayed exceptional ability and dedication to her duties.

Corporal Chris Thomas, a 36-year-old, single RAF policeman who has shown outstanding determination and energy in support of station rugby at RAF St Mawgan, receives the Commendation by the Air Officer Commanding 3 Group. Corporal Thomas willingly stepped up from being the second officer in charge to run the club, following the officer in charge's deployment on Operation FRESCO, taking on all managerial aspects including administering a large Service Institute Fund and the supervision of bar staff.

Warrant Officer David Crockett recives a Commendation by the Commander in Chief, Strike Command. A 47-year-old, married man, who lives with his wife and children in north Cornwall, he was the senior non-commissioned officer responsible for engineering management of the Helicopter Maintenance Flight at St Mawgan from January 2001 to May 2003. This involved the timely production of Sea King aircraft to meet the RAF's vital search and rescue operational requirements.

Corporal Lynton James Parker also receives a Commendation by the Commander in Chief, Strike Command. The 39-year-old lives in Newquay with his wife and children. He has been employed within the Sea King Priority Progression Cell at St Mawgan since November 2002. During the next seven months, cell, which comprised a senior and junior non-commissioned officer and three Senior Aircraftmen, was severely undermanned, often down to three or even two personnel, due to the absence of the senior non-commissioned officer and other personnel detached on Operations TELIC and FRESCO. Corporal Parker, sometimes almost single-handedly, carried out the additional responsibility with considerable aplomb.