news our latest stories
Frances Clarke: Freewoman of the Borough
30 Jun 2010
On the 27th May one of Community Links staff, Frances Clarke was awarded the Freedom of the London Borough of Newham in ceremony at West Ham Town Hall.
The award was in recognition of over 30 years of work dedicated to our local community. Frances started out driving a double-decker bus providing activities for young people across the borough. In the early 90’s, Frances was part of a team involved in securing £1.5 million to renovate the former Canning Town Hall building, where Community Links remain today. Among other activities Frances is organiser of the local 'We Are What We Do' project which inspires people to use everyday actions to change the world.
The Honorary Freedom of the Borough is the ‘highest distinction a local authority can bestow on an individual’, that is the good news. The bad news is that this is an honorary position which does not possess the ‘practical benefits once enjoyed’. So she can’t herd her sheep and geese up the high street after all.
Four other people were celebrated with Freedom of the Borough. Jack Petchey, who through the JackPetchey Foundation had generously supported some of Community Links work with young people. Michael Grier recently retired community relations lead at Tate & Lyle has been a long time supporter of Community Links and many other local voluntary sector organisations. Marie Gabrielle, The Chair of Newham Primary Care Trust and Commander Nick Bracken of Newham Police were also recognised for their local work. They were each given a medal and a beautiful leather bound scroll with hand painted lettering. During the ceremony they signed an enormous ornate book which included the details of the previous famous Freepeople such as: former Prime Minister Ramsey McDonald; Victorian philanthropist John Passmore Edwards and Alderman Daisy Parsons, the first female Mayor of West Ham.
Frances said she had a great evening and felt very humbled and proud by all the lovely things people said. She took the opportunity in her thank you speech to make a point about the opportunities for girls and women still being very restricted. She told the story of a 10 year old girl in a junior school who said to her:”Isn’t it a pity that a woman isn’t allowed to be Prime Minister?”
Download a copy of the commemorative publication from the London Borough of Newham.