A former council leader could be joining an iconic war-time Prime Minister and an Olympic Gold medalist in receiving the Freedom of Stafford Borough.

Alderman Jack Kemp, who was an elected councillor for 50 years and served as Mayor of the Borough, has been nominated for the award for his “huge contribution” to the area.

His name, along with former Lord Lieutenant of Staffordshire, Sir Ian Dudson, and his wife Lady Jane Dudson, has been put forward by leader of the Borough Council, Aidan Godfrey.

Councillors will be asked to confer the ‘Freedom’ on all three at a special meeting next week. It is the highest honour the council can bestow on an individual to recognise their "eminent services" to the borough.

They would join wartime Prime Minister, Winston Churchill, and Rio Olympic Kayak Gold medalist, Joe Clarke, by signing the 126-year-old ‘Freedom of the Borough’ book.

The honour was bestowed in 1946 on Churchill to recognise his leadership during the war. And in 2016 local-lad Clarke, was granted the Borough Freedom in front of more than 10,000 people at the Christmas Lights Switch on in Stafford after his gold medal triumph.

It will require two thirds of elected members attending the extraordinary council meeting on Tuesday 14 April to vote for the recommendation to grant Freedom to the nominees. Recipients of the award are given a ‘Freedom scroll’ and will add their name to the book that dates back to 1899.

Councillor Godfrey said: “Jack’s contribution to our area has been huge. He was one of the architects of the borough council as we know it today and continued to serve our residents and businesses selflessly for 50 years. This achievement is unrivalled and will never be matched now – with the borough council due to be replaced in 2028.

“Joe Clarke was the last individual to be given this honour, ten years ago, and it has been 80 years since it was bestowed upon Winston Churchill - which demonstrates just how high the bar is to be considered for such an honour.”

Sir Ian was Lord Lieutenant of Staffordshire from 2012-2025 and High Sheriff of Staffordshire in 2010. He was appointed Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (KCVO) in the 2025 New Year’s Honours in recognition of his dedicated service to the Crown and community.

Councillor Godfrey added: “Sir Ian and Lady Jane have given exceptional service and made outstanding contributions to the local community, organisations and charities during their long and distinguished service to Stafford Borough and the county as a whole.”

The recommendation in a report asks that the council ‘resolves to grant Freedom of the Borough of Stafford’ to Alderman Jack Kemp, Sir Ian Dudson and Lady Jane Dudson in recognition of their services to the Borough.

It states: “The Council has powers to confer Honorary Freedom of the Borough under section 249 of the Local Government Act 1972. This provides that the Council may, by resolution passed by not less than two-thirds of the members voting thereon at a meeting specially convened for the purpose, admit to be Honorary Freeman of the Borough persons of distinction and persons who have, in the opinion of the Council, rendered eminent services to the Borough.”

Alderman Kemp, Sir Ian, and Lady Dudson will be granted the Freedom of the Borough at a meeting in July if councillors agree to the recommendations next week.

Press Release No 6284