New Freemen Welcomed

Ken Thornley and Michael Guest MBE were welcomed as Honorary Freemen by the Mayor in the presence of the Beverley Town Council at an Extra Ordinary Meeting of the Council on Tuesday March 15th 2016.

Following a change in the law in 2013, Town and Parish Councils are able to confer the status of Honorary Freemen and Freewomen on their residents providing all Councillors agree with the nomination. Last year, Professor Barbara English, Tom Martin and Berna Moody were given the honour whilst Harry Flynn and Laurie Cross were recipients in 2014.

Ken Thornley was born and bred in Beverley. His working life began when he became an apprentice painter with the Beverley Corporation; he continued to work with Beverley Borough Council and Humberside Council and one of his claims to fame is that he painted The Guildhall in which his recognition ceremony was held! He and his wife Dorothy brought their children up in the town. Ken has always been involved in the community. He has been involved with The Cherry Tree Centre since its establishment in 1996 and the many community groups run from there since then. He served as a Councillor on Beverley Town Council and is a former Mayor of Beverley.

Michael Guest, MBE is originally from Barnsley but has been a Beverley businessman since 1960 when he opened his first jewellery business here. He stood as an Independent County Councillor in the 1970's and again in the 1990's. He has been a member of Beverley Renaissance and Beverley Rotary Club; a Director of Beverley Building Society; twice President of the Beverley Chamber of Trade; a Trustee of Beverley Minster Old Fund and Beverley Consolidated Charities; a Governor of Beverley College; a Fellow of East Riding College and on the local St John's Ambulance Committee.

Beverley Mayor Peter Astell said "I am happy to welcome Mr Ken Thornley and Mr Mike Guest to become Honorary Freemen of Beverley as agreed unanimously by all the Councillors at Beverley Town Council."

All at Just Beverley extend their congratulations, too.