A former council leader, who served on Stafford Borough Council for more than 50 years, last night (Tuesday) joined an iconic Prime Minister and an Olympic Champion on a roll of honour.

Alderman Jack Kemp was awarded the Freedom of the Borough at a meeting of the full council.

As well as Winston Churchill, other notable recipients of the ‘Freedom Scroll’ include Olympic Kayak champion, Joe Clarke.

Jack, who also served as Mayor of the Borough, was nominated to receive the award for his “huge contribution” to the area - with councillors unanimously backing the move.

He thanked friends, councillors and officers for their support during his 50 years and said: “It is an honour to join a select group of people who have been given the Freedom of the Borough.”

Councillor Aidan Godfrey said: “Freedom of the Borough is not given very often. It is the highest honour we can bestow on a person and nobody deserves this more than Alderman Jack Kemp.”

He added “He has given over 50 years’ service to this council - an achievement that is unique and will never be bettered. He has helped hundreds of people over the years and many people’s lives have been improved because of his help.”

Alderman Kemp is the latest to sign 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-paddler 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 in Rio.

He was presented with the 'Freedom Scroll' from Mayor of Stafford Borough, Councillor Mark Winnington on Tuesday (21 July), and his name has now been entered into a book that dates back to 1899.

An official report to the local authority stated: ‘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.’

Press Release No 6315