A special meeting of St Helens Borough Council has agreed to bestow one of the borough’s highest honours onto local emergency services and armed forces cadet services – including Newton-le-Willows Sea Cadets and Newton-le-Willows Army Cadets.
A motion was passed awarding Freedom of the Borough status to:
969 (St Helens) Air Cadet Squadron
Newton-le-Willows Sea Cadets TS Warspite
Newton-le-Willows Army Cadets
St Helens Army Cadets
The Royal British Legion
Merseyside Police
Merseyside Fire & Rescue Service
North West Ambulance Service
Put forward by St Helens Borough Council Leader, Cllr Anthony Burns and seconded by deputy leader, Cllr Kate Groucutt, Freedom of the Borough is the highest accolade a council can bestow and comes during the 50th anniversary since the establishment of Merseyside Police and Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service, as well as the 80th anniversary since the end of the Second World War.
It means that all armed forces cadet units that serve the borough will have been awarded Freedom of the Borough.
St Helens Borough Council Leader, Anthony Burns, said: “Freedom of the Borough is the highest honour we can bestow, and it reflects the deep respect and gratitude we have for these organisations. From our emergency services who protect and serve every day, to the cadet forces who inspire and develop the next generation, their contribution to the life of our borough is immeasurable. This recognition, especially in such significant anniversary years, is a way of saying thank you for their unwavering commitment to our borough and its people.”
Mayor of St Helens Borough, Cllr Seve Gomez-Aspron MBE, added: “As a community, we wholeheartedly support the uniformed organisations and emergency services and the role they play making our borough a better place to live.
“The Cadet Forces, especially in the 80th year since VE Day, instil positive qualities and values in thousands of youngsters across the country, and here in Merseyside too. We are thankful for every volunteer, and supporter that enable them to do so.
“Our emergency services are so heavily embedded in our communities, that they form an integral part of them in every town and village across the borough. They are valued partner organisations of our council, and we appreciate and support everything that they do to make our community a safe place to live.
“It is totally fitting, especially in the 50th anniversary year of Merseyside Police and Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service, that they are given our highest award.”