Freeman of the press as Terry is honoured

Report by Adam Westgarth

VETERAN Express reporter Terry Sutton has said the privilege of becoming an honorary freeman of Dover is as important to him as when the Queen appointed him MBE.

Dover Town Council has announced it plans to make the 82-year-old an honorary freeman of the town on Thursday, May 19, for his work and commitment to the community.

The Whitfield resident, who joined this newspaper in 1949, has become one of the most well-known and best-loved characters in the town.

At the ceremony next week, he and his family will be invited to the town hall before the civic party, which will be attended by the town sergeant, mayor and town councillors.

Mr Sutton will be required to take a special oath before being presented with a scroll and a lapel pin featuring the town crest in the form of a key.

He will also receive a freeman’s sash which he will be able to wear at all future civic events, such as Remembrance Day and the Zeebrugge Commemoration.

He said: “I’m really looking forward to the ceremony - it will be one of the proudest days of my life.

Touched

“It will be up there in terms of honours along with when the Queen honoured me with the MBE. I’m truly touched.”

Mr Sutton was made an MBE in the Queen’s New Year’s honours list in January 1991 for his services to journalism and the community, and he continues to be heavily involved with Dover organisations.

He is chairman of the White Cliffs County Tourism Association, an active member of the Dover Rotary Club and serves on the Parochial Church Council at St Mary’s Church.

He also serves on the council of Christians Together in Dover, is the coeditor of the Dover Grammar School old boys’ newsletter, is one of four trustees of the Dover Patrol Memorial at St Margaret’s Bay and is an executive committee member of The Dover Society.

Mr Sutton is also the author and co-author of three books about the town, including his autobiography which was published in 2008.

Next week’s ceremony, which will take place as part of Dover Town Council’s mayor making, will not be Mr Sutton’s first.

He said: “I have, sometimes as a reporter, attended a number of ceremonies of people receiving the Honorary Freedom of Dover -such Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery and Dover resident Air Vice-Marshall Sir Basil Embry and others.

“In my wildest dreams, never did I think I would be joining such a list.”