A FORMER Stockton Heath parish councillor has been granted the Freedom of the Parish after 30 years of service.

Wendy Emsley, who recently stepped down from her role due to ill health, was presented with the Freedom of the Parish of Stockton Heath at a special meeting of the parish council.

Wendy has served Stockton Heath as a councillor since she was first elected on May 7, 1987.

Chair of the parish council, councillor Helen Dutton, presented Wendy with a decorative framed scroll, a bouquet of flowers and a framed photograph to mark the occasion.

The parish council had previously presented her with a painting when she first announced her retirement from the role.

Wendy said it was an honour to be part of the parish council.

She said: “We give with whatever is within us, without thinking about what we will receive.

"We just hope that Stockton Heath will be a better and happier place for us having been here.

"Stockton Heath Parish Council has been like my second home.”

Historically, a person awarded the freedom of the parish might have been granted rights to graze their sheep or cattle on common land, trade inside the city walls and march troops through the town or parish with drums beating and colours flying.

Today, these rights are symbolic in nature and recipients are not awarded any specific powers.