STOCKTON Heath Parish Council held a special meeting this month to honour and thank those members who had stepped down at the last election in May 2021.

The pandemic had not only delayed the election by a year, requiring councillors to serve five years instead of the usual four, but had also delayed the act of saying goodbye to those who had retired from public service.

The easing of restrictions provided the opportunity for present and past members to come together again.

Former councillor Sonia Boggan, who first joined the parish council in the late 1980s received the Freedom of the Parish, a ‘symbolic honour bestowed on those who have given service to their community’.

Former councillor Dorothy Robb, having served on the parish council for seventeen years, was also admitted to the Freedom of the Parish.

Nick Bent, former counillor, was presented with a hand-drawn map of Stockton Heath in recognition of his service, as was former councillor Graham Welborn who also represented Stockton Heath as a borough councillor.

The family of former councillor Angela Fell, who sadly passed away in March 2020 whilst serving on the parish council, also received a map.

Pamela Todd, chairman of Stockton Heath Parish Council said: “These former councillors between them have given over fifty years of service to the community of Stockton Heath and it was such a pleasure to be able to come together and celebrate that.

“Parish councils and their councillors perhaps don’t make the big decisions that the borough council make, but they do things which touch their communities at a closer level, like keeping the streets clear of litter, providing floral displays and supporting local groups and charities with grants.”