Honorary Alderman status for seven long-serving former councillors

Seven long-serving former Stockton-on-Tees Borough councillors have been awarded Honorary Alderman status.

Bill Woodhead MBE, Jean O'Donnell, Paul Kirton, Mike Smith, Ken Dixon, Maurice Perry and Mohammed Javed achieved a combined 175 years dedicated service to the authority during their time as ward councillors.

Former veteran councillor Bill Woodhead was the longest serving member of those to be made Honorary Aldermen with a total of 43 years' service as an elected member in the Borough.

Councillors O'Donnell, Kirton, Dixon, Perry and Javed also served a term each as the Mayor of Stockton-on-Tees.

The current Mayor of Stockton-on-Tees, Councillor Jim Beall, said: "The Honorary Alderman status for Bill, Jean, Paul, Mike, Ken, Maurice and Mohammed is richly deserved and testament to their hard work and dedication as councillors.

"It's a fitting tribute for their significant contribution to the Council over the years and their work in the community, who they served tirelessly."

Councillors Mike Smith, Jean O'Donnell, Mohammed Javed, Maurice Perry and Paul Kirton were all conferred as Aldermen at a full meeting of the Council on Wednesday, September 20. Councillors Ken Dixon and Bill Woodhead are due to be conferred at November's meeting.

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