Six of the best to get Freedom of Bury

Six of the best are to be awarded the Freedom of Bury for their achievements.

This is the highest civic honour the borough can bestow. Among the recipients in recent years are the film director Danny Boyle, the band Elbow and the late Colonel Eric Davidson.

The list, agreed this week by the council’s cabinet, includes three former councillors who were all Mayors of Bury - Roy Walker (who represented Church ward for 40 years), Trevor Holt (East ward councillor for 37 years) and Dorothy Gunther (a councillor for 27 years, latterly for North Manor).

The others are Itzik Alterman, a Holocaust survivor who uses his experiences to do vital Holocaust education work; and Akram Baig, chief executive of the Jinnah Day Care Centre in Bury which, among other activities, provides care to the area’s elderly Asian community.

The council had previously agreed to grant freedom of the borough to England footballer Kieran Trippier, and will now progress this following lockdown.

For candidates to be considered they must be able to demonstrate a strong and continuing connection with, and commitment to, the borough; or have made a major contribution to national life and, in doing so, have enhanced the reputation of the borough.

This might be in the fields of: artistic and cultural endeavours; business, economic growth and prosperity; charitable work; improvement to the built and natural environment; religious and spiritual life; sports activities; and civic service.

Arrangements are being made to hold the ceremony in the next two months.

ENDS

Press release issued: 18 November 2022.