Town honours its finest
HARTLEPOOL'S finest were presented with the town's highest civic honours in front of a packed audience .
More than 150 people were at the Civic Centre last night to witness Lord Peter Mandelson, Sky Sports presenter Jeff Stelling, and community stalwarts Wendy McLoughlin and Isobel Wilson awarded the title of Honorary Freeman of the Borough of Hartlepool.
Former mayors Harry Clouth and Douglas Ferriday were also honoured as Honorary Alderman in the council chamber at the Civic Centre, in Victoria Road.
Chairman of the council, Carl Richardson, opened the ceremony and said it was his pleasure to honour those who have "made a great contribution to our great town of Hartlepool".
Ahead of the presentations, councillors were asked to vote on the motion to honour the four Honorary Freemen.
Click the links below for more town honour stories
HONOURED: Peter MandelsonHONOURED: Wendy McLoughlin
HONOURED: Jeff Stelling
HONOURED: Isobel Wilson
Pair delighted with Alderman honour
VIPs visit local organisations
Before last night, the historic title of Honorary Freeman had only been awarded 14 times in Hartlepool in the past 35 years.
The honour is given to those people who, in the opinion of the council, have given great service to the town over the years.
Each nominee was proposed and seconded during the ceremony, which was attended by family, friends, councillors and council officers.
Lord Mandelson, who is now the Government's business secretary, was MP for Hartlepool for 12 years. He was proposed by Mayor of Hartlepool Stuart Drummond and seconded by his former agent, councillor Steve Wallace, who described him as an "honorary Hartlepudlian" who was always "up front and honest".
Lord Mandelson recalled telling Mayor Drummond to "drop the monkey costume and fight like a lion" for Hartlepool after he was elected in 2002, and he said "that is exactly what you have done".
Sky Sports and Countdown presenter Jeff Stelling is one of the town's favourite sons and he made an emotional acceptance speech, in which he said how proud his late-dad, Andy, would have been.
Jeff's nomination was also proposed by Mayor Drummond, who described the former Mail-employee as "Mr Hartlepool".
Meanwhile, Isobel Wilson, who founded the Pansies breast cancer support group, was praised for her "courage and strength" and "selfless determination" in supporting breast cancer victims across town.
Families First founder Wendy McLoughlin was described as a "remarkable lady" by councillor Pamela Hargreaves, who proposed her nomination for her "skill and determination" in supporting families.
The ceremony, which lasted around an-hour-and-a-half, came to a close with Harry Clouth and Douglas Ferriday being awarded the titles of Honorary Alderman.
All of the recipients then met with members of the audience, who had the chance to take photographs and get autographs, before a reception was held.
There was one vote against the motion to approve the honours by independent councillor Geoff Lille
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Weather for Peterlee
Thursday 24 May 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 10 C to 15 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: North
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Sunny
Temperature: 10 C to 18 C
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