Sir Patrick Stewart was one of three people granted the Freedom of Kirklees and spoke of the “extraordinary privilege” of being honoured by the borough where he grew up.

The Mirfield-born Hollywood star, who now lives in California, attended the civic ceremony at Huddersfield Town Hall via video link.

Sir Patrick, who was Chancellor at the University of Huddersfield between 2004 and 2015, was given Honorary Freeman status alongside Huddersfield-born Poet Laureate Simon Armitage CBE and community volunteer and fundraiser Joan Gorton, of Dalton.

Shakespearean actor Sir Patrick, who found fame in Star Trek as captain Jean-Luc Picard, described the “extraordinary privilege” of receiving the Freedom from the place where he spent his childhood.

He added: “Awards and award ceremonies are part of our life in showbusiness and can be fun and entertaining. However, they will never mean anything like the Freedom of Kirklees does for me.”

 

 

In his speech Sir Patrick spoke about his upbringing in Mirfield, cutting his teeth as an actor with local drama groups and working as a trainee journalist at the Dewsbury Reporter.

He also paid tribute to his former Mirfield teacher Cecil Dormand who helped him get to grips with Shakespeare and inspired a lifelong passion for The Bard.

Sir Patrick, a big Huddersfield Town fan, said he wished his parents and two older brothers could have been at the ceremony and thanked people for their “generosity and kindness.”

Mr Armitage, who grew up in Marsden and now lives in Honley, wrote his first verse aged 10. He became Poet Laureate in 2019.

He said the Freedom was an “incredible honour” and added: “I think it as an acknowledgement of my work and that I have stayed loyal to this part of the world.”

Historically, Freemen enjoyed privileges such as driving a flock of sheep through a town centre but the Kirklees honour is purely ceremonial.

Mr Armitage joked that some new perks could be introduced such as free car parking!

 

 

Mrs Gorton, 89, also received the Freedom which she regards as very much being shared with her late husband Tony.

The couple founded the Huddersfield branch of Epilepsy Action 50 years ago and Mrs Gorton remains involved today.

The couple first contacted the British Epilepsy Association after their eldest daughter Sarah developed the condition and found there was little help available. Over the years the couple raised thousands of pounds for the charity.

Scrolls were presented to Mr Armitage and Mrs Gorton by Mayor of Kirklees Clr Nosheen Dad and her predecessor Clr Cahal Burke.

Clr Burke announced the awards during his year of office as mayor to mark the 50th anniversary of Kirklees Council.

Only two individuals have previously been awarded the Freedom of Kirklees. They were former Huddersfield East MP Sir William Mallalieu in 1980 and the Dewsbury-born first woman Speaker of the House of Commons Baroness Betty Boothroyd in 1992.

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