Carlisle City Council has bestowed one of its highest honours onto three people who have served the area.
Radio presenter Val Armstrong, councillor John Collier and The Reverend Keith Teasdale have been given the freedom of the city.
At a special council meeting, members agreed to name them Freewoman and Freemen of the City.
The council may admit honorary freewomen and freemen for its area if they are people of distinction or who have, in the opinion of the council, rendered eminent services to the place or area.
Previous recipients of this honour were the then Prince of Wales – now King Charles III in 1986, The Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment in 2006, His Honour Judge Paul Batty QC in 2016 and RAF Spadeadam in 2018.
Val Armstrong
Val joined BBC Radio Cumbria in 1982 and, although born in Lancashire, has become an enthusiastic advocate for Cumbria, and is one of the most familiar voices on the radio station providing comfort to thousands during foot and mouth and the floods. She is a tireless campaigner for charities including Macmillan Cancer Support. In 2011, Val was named Cumbria Woman of the Year.
John Collier
John is city councillor for Dalston and Burgh Ward. First elected to the council in 1979, he has served as chair of several panels and currently sits on the development control committee, licensing panel and appeals panel 1, as well as being a substitute member on the audit committee and people, place and resources scrutiny panels.
He was the last mayor of Carlisle of the 20th century, from 1999 to 2000.
The Rev Keith Teasdale
He was inducted as vicar of St Cuthbert’s in Carlisle in 2010 and has been an active member of the Carlisle city centre fraternity and Churches Together. He was a loyal supporter of the mayor’s charity and hosted many events. Until his retirement, he attended city council meetings and other roles included chair of governors for Norman Street School and member of the independent remuneration panel for Copeland and Allerdale.
He was a great support to the community during the floods, despite being personally affected, and during the pandemic. He has been recognised as a community hero, winning the People First award in 2021 at which the judges commended his input into city centre open air worship.
Leader of Carlisle City Council John Mallinson, said: “I’m was delighted to put forward Val, John and the Rev Teasdale for this important distinction. They have all served this city over several decades and deserve to have their dedication recognised.”
A formal freedom ceremony and the presentation of a casket containing an address to the honorary Freewoman and Freemen of the City will take place at a special meeting of the Council next year.
