Freedom of borough honour for star trio

THREE outstanding figures have been granted freedom of the borough as Kirklees Council gets ready to mark its 50th anniversary.

Volunteer and fundraiser Joan Gorton, from Dalton, Mirfield-born actor Sir Patrick Stewart and Poet Laureate Simon Armitage, from Marsden, were each awarded the honour at an extraordinary council meeting.

Council leader Cathy Scott said: “Awarding freedom of the borough only happens on rare occasions and it honours the figures who have made significant contributions to life in the communities or achieved something outstanding.

“In April, Kirklees Council will be marking its 50th anniversary and it’s amazing to think that during that time Mrs Gorton, the co-founder of the local charity Epilepsy Action Huddersfield, has worked tirelessly, raising money for a charity and campaigning for better resources and healthcare for those with the condition and to support their families too.

“Many of you will already know the achievements of Simon Armitage CBE and Sir Patrick Stewart OBE. They are both nationally and internationally recognised for their services to literature and performing arts and service to drama, acting and cinema, respectively.”

Kirklees mayor Cahal Burke said: “I think it’s a very important meeting, I think it’s one where we can show our gratitude and acknowledgement for individuals within our borough who have gone above and beyond to achieve great things in their own right and I think as we commemorate 50 years of Kirklees that we’re able to celebrate a positive achievement of individuals in our borough.

“There are many more besides them but I think the nominations are good ones, ones that we should support and that hopefully will do great things going forward.”

Armitage, inset, is Professor of Poetry at the University of Leeds and was elected to serve as Professor of Poetry at the University of Oxford for 2015-2019.

Previously he taught at the University of Iowa’s Writers’ Workshop and Manchester Metropolitan University before his 2011 appointment as Professor of Poetry at the University of Sheffield and Visiting Professor at the University of Falmouth.