Former council leader, Jack Kemp, will join Winston Churchill and Olympic gold medalist, Joe Clarke, in receiving the Freedom of Stafford Borough.

Councillors unanimously backed the move at a special meeting on Tuesday night.

Alderman Kemp, who was an elected councillor for 50 years and served as Mayor of the Borough, was nominated for the award for his “huge contribution” to the area.

His name, along with former Lord Lieutenant of Staffordshire, Sir Ian Dudson, and his wife Lady Jane Dudson, had been put forward by leader of the Borough Council, Aidan Godfrey.  

Councillors were asked to confer the ‘Freedom’ on all three at the extraordinary meeting. It is the highest honour the council can bestow on an individual to recognise their "eminent services" to the borough.  

Councillor Godfrey told the council that the recommendation was for “three very worthy people in recognition of their service to the borough.”

He said: “Alderman Kemp has given over 50 years service to this council – an achievement that is unique and will never been bettered. He has helped hundreds of people over the years and many people’s lives have been improved because of his help.”

The three will be the latest to sign the 126-year-old ‘Freedom of the Borough’ book. The honour was bestowed in 1946 on Churchill to recognise his leadership during the war. And in 2016 local-paddler Clarke, was granted the Borough Freedom in front of more than 10,000 people at the Christmas Lights Switch on in Stafford after his gold medal triumph in Rio.  

Recipients of the award are given a ‘Freedom scroll’ and will add their name to the book that dates back to 1899.

Sir Ian was Lord Lieutenant of Staffordshire from 2012-2025 and High Sheriff of Staffordshire in 2010. He was appointed Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (KCVO) in the 2025 New Year’s Honours in recognition of his dedicated service to the Crown and community.  

Councillor Godfrey added that Sir Ian had given ‘long and exceptional service’ to the local community, organisations and charities and was accompanied by Lady Jane in a very supportive role in promoting the borough.  

Councillors agreed the recommendation that the council ‘resolves to grant Freedom of the Borough of Stafford’ to Alderman Jack Kemp, Sir Ian Dudson and Lady Jane Dudson in recognition of their services to the Borough.

It states: ‘The Council has powers to confer Honorary Freedom of the Borough under section 249 of the Local Government Act 1972. This provides that the Council may, by resolution passed by not less than two-thirds of the members voting thereon at a meeting specially convened for the purpose, admit to be Honorary Freeman of the Borough persons of distinction and persons who have, in the opinion of the Council, rendered eminent services to the Borough.’

Alderman Kemp, Sir Ian, and Lady Dudson will be given the Freedom of the Borough at a meeting in July. 

Press Release No 6286