A long-serving North Wraxall councillor has become the first honorary freeman of the parish in recognition of his contribution to the local community.

Councillor Robert Dicks was presented with a freedom scroll by parish council chairman Cllr Sue Miller to commemorate his remarkable service over 39 years.

She handed over the scroll and a framed certificate to commemorate his becoming the first Honorary Freeman of North Wraxall Parish at the annual parish meeting on Wednesday, May 25.

Mr Dick has just retired from the parish council after a quite remarkable tenure of 39 years and seven days and is held in high regard by everyone in the village.

Cllr Miller said: “The conferring of the Freedom of the Parish, for his remarkable service to the parish, is the highest honour that a Parish Council can bestow and whilst this comes with no privileges it is an official title which he can use.”

She said that Mr Dicks was very much “a man of the parish”, having been born in the parish, schooled in the parish when the parish had a school in its boundaries, and having lived in the parish until relatively recently.