Special ceremony held to appoint new freemen and woman of the city

Three well-known local personalities were formally given the honour at the meeting - Val Armstrong, Carlisle City Councillor John Collier and The Reverend Keith Teasdale.

The new freemen and freewoman of the city with Carlisle mayor, Milke Mitchelson (Image: Stuart Walker)It was agreed at a meeting in December that Val Armstrong, Councillor John Collier and the Reverend Keith Teasdale are ‘persons of distinction’ and that they have ‘rendered eminent service to the City of Carlisle area’, and they were admitted as Honorary Freewoman and Freemen of the City.

Tuesday’s Special Meeting confirmed the appointments and included a presentation of a casket containing an address to the Honorary Freewoman and Freemen of the City.

Leader of Carlisle City Council, Cllr John Mallinson, said: “I’m delighted to put forward Val, John and the Rev Teasdale for this important distinction.

"They have all served this city over several decades and deserve to have their dedication recognised.”

Val Armstrong joined BBC Radio Cumbria in 1982 and, although born in Lancashire, has become an enthusiastic advocate for our county, and is one of the most familiar voices on the radio station providing comfort to thousands during foot and mouth and the floods.

Val Armstrong receiving the freedom of the city (Image: Stuart Walker)She is a tireless campaigner for charities including Macmillan Cancer Support. In 2011, Val was named Cumbria Woman of the Year.

Val is just the third woman to be awarded the freedom of the city and Cllr Lisa Brown said it was an ‘honour’ to give a speech backing Val.

John Collier is the City Councillor for Dalston and Burgh Ward. First elected to the Council in 1979, he has served as chair of Licensing Panel, Appeals Panels 1 and 3 and Development Control Committee and currently sits on Development Control Committee, Licensing Panel and Appeals Panel 1.

Cllr Collier addressing the meeting (Image: Stuart Walker)Councillor Collier served as the last Mayor of Carlisle of the twentieth Century, from 1999 to 2000.

Father Teasdale was inducted as Vicar of St Cuthbert, Carlisle in 2010 and has been an active member of the Carlisle City Centre fraternity and Churches Together.

He was a loyal supporter of the Mayor’s Charity and hosted many events including ‘an evening with Henry VIII’.

Father Teasdale speaking to those who assembled at the civic centre (Image: Stuart Walker)Father Teasdale was a great support to the community during the floods, despite being personally affected, and during the pandemic.

He has been recognised as a community hero, winning the People First award in 2021 at which the judges commended his input into City Centre open air worship.

READ MORE: Back in the saddle - racing returns to Carlisle for first time in 2023

Previous recipients of this honour are HM King Charles III in 1986, His Honour Judge Paul Batty QC in 2016 and American President Woodrow Wilson, whose mother was born in Carlisle.