Former Middlesbrough Mayor Dave Budd will receive one of the town’s highest honours this week.
Mr Budd – who served as Middlesbrough’s elected Mayor from 2015 to 2019 – was nominated to receive the Freedom of the Borough earlier this year.
The award is conferred on those who have made an outstanding contribution to the life of the town and its people.
Mr Budd was nominated by Councillors Luke Henman and Lewis Young in recognition of more than 30 years in public office, from his first ward election in 1991 to his term as the town’s second directly elected Mayor.
In their nomination letter they wrote:
“Middlesbrough is fortunate to have had Dave Budd serving the town in public life for decades.
“It is even more fortunate that he continues to do so in his retirement.”
They highlighted Mr Budd’s work to improve the lives of local people and boost the local economy, his contribution to making Middlesbrough a dementia-friendly town, his involvement in the development of MIMA and as a champion of culture in the town.
Beyond public office he serves as a governor at Middlesbrough College, and has worked for many years to promote the town’s heritage through the development of the Tees Heritage Trail.
The nomination was supported a number of leading local figures including Middlesbrough Football Club Chairman Steve Gibson who wrote:
“His selfless service and dedication to the town of Middlesbrough has been exemplary and the town is better because of him.
“Always a gentleman but with a bit of steel when needed.”
Mayor Budd will be formally awarded the Freedom of the Borough at a ceremony at Middlesbrough Town Hall on Thursday, October 29.