AN inspirational Llanarmon-Yn-Ial volunteer has been presented with a coveted countryside award.

The Clwydian Range and Dee Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) make the award every year to a community, individual or business that has made an outstanding contribution to the landscape it covers.

This year, the award is recognising the volunteering work of Christine Evans.

Prior to her retirement, Christine was a consultant urologist and transplant surgeon and was responsible for putting Ysbyty Glan Clwyd on the urological map.

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She was awarded overall hospital doctor of the year award in 1997 and was a recipient of British urology’s highest award.

Christine has also worked tirelessly in the developing world including Errbil and Duhok in Northern Iraq, Zimbabwe and Zambia to name but a few, where she has helped develop vital urological services.

She has been involved with the AONB for many years and first became part of the partnership - or as it was then known as the joint advisory committee - when she was a county councillor for Llanarmon-Yn-Ial and following on from that a member of the AONB Partnership.

She is also the chair of the heritage, culture and communities working group, a role that she takes very seriously and she very rarely misses a meeting - sometimes she even supplies cakes from the Llanarmon shop!

Christine tries her utmost to make any site visits and was one of the first people to try out the ‘Tramper’ - an off road disability scooter, which the Friends of the Clwydian Range and Dee Valley purchased.

She is one of the original board members of the Friends of the Clwydian Range and Dee Valley, and once again is always on hand to help in any way that she can.

Christine also restarted and ran the youth club from 2009 until 2017, held at the Old School House, Llanarmon.

AONB officer Howard Sutcliffe said: “The AONB have benefitted over the years from all who have given their time and effort to help improve the landscape and communities of the AONB and it is important that recognition and appreciation was given from the AONB to those special people and groups.

“Christine has been fundamental in putting the ‘heart’ back into the community of Llanarmon yn Ial, with her support for the Raven which is a community run pub.

"Christine is also a regular volunteer at the community shop."

Chair of the AONB Partnership Andrew Worthington said: “Christine is an inspiration to us all.

"Her enthusiasm, drive and ability to work with people at all levels for the greater good deserves respect and admiration.

"It is apparent for anyone to see that Christine has a real devotion to the AONB and will assist at any level to try and secure its future.

“On behalf of the AONB Team and the Partnership we would like to thank Christine for her diligent work for the AONB, we are very grateful to her.”