Former Middlesbrough Mayor Dave Budd has been recognised for his contribution to the town, receiving the prestigious Freedom of the Borough honour at a special ceremony held at Middlesbrough Town Hall.
Mr Budd, who served as the town’s elected Mayor from 2015 to 2019, was presented with one of Middlesbrough’s highest civic honours in recognition of his dedication and service to the local community.
The award is conferred in recognition of an outstanding contribution to the life of the town and its people.
Previous recipients include Olympic swimming legend Jack Hatfield, artist Mackenzie Thorpe and local historian Norman Moorsom.
Mr Budd was nominated by Councillors Luke Henman and Lewis Young who paid tribute to more than three decades in public office, from his first ward election in 1991 to his term as the town’s second directly elected Mayor.
They also highlighted his work to improve the lives of local people and boost the local economy, his contribution to making Middlesbrough a dementia-friendly town and his role as a champion of culture in the town.
Councillor Young told a packed historic Courtroom at Middlesbrough Town Hall:
“Few people can have a longer record of service to the town than Dave, and his contribution has reached across many areas of our town’s life.
“We are recognising not just a former Mayor, but someone who has devoted and continues to devote his life to a town that he cares about.”
Appearing via video link as he was unable to participate in the meeting and describing Mr Budd as ‘a public servant to his core’, Councillor Henman added:
“Dave has been a central figure in public life in Middlesbrough for over 30 years, both in and out of public office.
“Dave is proud of our town, he is a passionate Boro fan through thick and thin, but he is just as passionate about our people and our heritage.
“We know our town has its challenges, but Dave has never been content for us to settle for less than we deserve.
“In his time in public life, he has demonstrated how we can be ambitious for Middlesbrough – unapologetically ambitious – even when others felt we should know our place.”
Accepting the award in front of invited guests and civic dignitaries including Middlesbrough Mayor Chris Cooke and Deputy Lieutenant of North Yorkshire Peter Scrope, Mr Budd thanked his family for their support and said he was ‘truly honoured’.
He said:
“It’s always all about team work, it’s about enabling other people to do things and trying to join things together.
“This town is full of people who care – it is a remarkable place.”
