VOLUNTEERS who dedicated 12 years of fundraising to save the Newbridge Memo will receive an award for their work tonight.

Around 100 local people have worked to fundraise and reinstate the workingmen’s institute which was officially reopened last year following a decade of restoration.

Tonight the volunteers will receive the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service presented by Lord Lieutenant of Gwent, Sir Simon Boyle.

Howard Stone, chair of trustees at the Memo, said he has invited all the volunteers past and present to the ceremony tonight.

He said: “It’s a combination of 12 years of hard work by volunteers and volunteer support. It’s a very worthy thing, a mark of recognition for all the hard work for all the people who have given up their and time and their efforts.”

Mr Stone added: “It’s a strange situation as we were not allowed to divulge it until a few weeks ago. It has been quite hard to keep it a secret because I have known from the beginning of June.”

The Memo, which was originally built to commemorate the people who died in the First World War, cost £5.6 million to restore with help from lottery, European and government funding.

The ceremony to present the award will take place tonight at 6pm at the Memo.