Honorary Alderman status for three long-serving former councillors

Three long-serving former Stockton-on-Tees Borough councillors have been awarded Honorary Alderman status.

Paul Baker, Kathryn Nelson and the late Julia Cherrett were all conferred as Aldermen at Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council's Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Wednesday, May 25.

The posthumous Honorary Alderman status for Julia Cherrett, who died suddenly in October 2020, was recommended at a Special Council in March.

And the recommendation for Paul Baker and Kathryn Nelson was brought forward at a Special Council meeting in January 2020, but the ceremony was delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The Mayor of Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council, Councillor Ross Patterson, said: "The Honorary Alderman status for Julia, Kathryn and Paul is richly deserved and testament to their hard work and dedication as ward councillors.

"It's a fitting tribute for their work in the community, who they served with the utmost respect."

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PICTURE CAPTION (FROM LEFT TO RIGHT): Paul Baker, Kathryn Nelson and Mike Cherrett, who collected the award on behalf of Julia Cherrett.