Beth Meade and Zoe Aldcroft to be Awarded Freedom of the Borough of Scarborough

Friday, 10 March 2023 17:02

By Matthew Pells

The local sports stars will be given the honour at the the borough council's last ever meeting.

Whitby's International football superstar Beth Mead and Scarborough Rugby Union star Zoe Aldcroft will both be made Honorary Freeman of the Borough of Scarborough at the final meeting of Scarborough Borough Council on March 20th.

The special council meeting will see a number of honorary titles bestowed mainly on local councillors past and present.

But among the awards being bestowed are honorary Freeman titles for both Beth Meade and Zoe Aldcroft

The council agenda for the meeting states that the freedom of the borough award will be give to Beth Meade..

"in pursuance of the provisions of Section 249 of the Local Government Act 1972, the Council do hereby admit Ms Bethany Jane Mead to be an Honorary Freeman of the Borough of Scarborough as a token of the high esteem in which she is held by the townspeople of the Borough and in recognition of her eminent services to the community."

Also at the meeting the same honour will be given to Former Scarborough Rugby Union Club youth team player Zoe Aldcroft.

"in pursuance of the provisions of Section 249 of the Local Government Act 1972, the Council do hereby admit Ms Zoe Aldcroft to be an Honorary Freeman of the Borough of Scarborough as a token of the high esteem in which she is held by the townspeople of the Borough and in recognition of her eminent services to the community."

Beth Meade was named BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2022 in December in recognition of her international sporting accomplishments and the impact of her success beyond the world of football.

Zoe Aldcroft was been named World Rugby Women’s 15s Player of the Year in 2021.

The full council meeting on Monday March 20th will be the last meeting of the authority before it is abolished on March 31st and replaced by the new North Yorkshire Council on April 1st.

The final meeting will also create a number of Honorary aldermen and Honorary Alderwomen, titles given to councillors and former councillors in respect of their public service.

The award will be given to:

Councillor Derek Bastiman
Councillor Eric Broadbent
Councillor Bill Chatt
Councillor Mike Cockerill
Councillor Sam Cross
Councillor David Jeffels
Councillor Janet Jefferson
Councillor Helen Mallory
Councillor Jane Mortimer
Councillor Tony Randerson
Councillor Andrew Backhouse
The late Mrs Hazel Lynskey

Lifetime service awards will also be presented to

Honorary Alderman Godfrey Allanson
Councillor David Jeffels

Some of the recipients, who will continue to be councillors on the new North Yorkshire Council, will have their titles suspended and wont be able to use them until they cease to be councillors.