THREE town stalwarts have been honoured for their service in a special ceremony.

Jackie Surtees, Simon Wilkinson and Betty Williams have each served Upton Upon Severn for more than 20 years, and were awarded honorary freeman and freewoman status by the town council.

At the Mayor's Civic Service on September 25, the trio were presented with certificates and pendants by Cllr Henrietta Ross in recognition of their work in the town.

Jackie Surtees is an honorary freewoman for her “outstanding contribution to the presentation and profile of the town”.

She has been involved in many aspects of Upton life for over 20 years but is most widely known for her work with Upton in Bloom, who started their work in 2003 keeping Upton decorated all year round with fantastic award winning flower displays.

Simon Wilkinson is an honorary freeman for “an enduring and ongoing commitment to helping and promoting Upton, its history, environment and community”.

He has volunteered for many and varied aspects of Upton life and has made a difference to every organisation he has been involved with.

As chair of the Tudor House Museum Trust he continues to tell the story and history of Upton and as a diligent researcher has written and shared Upton's history with a wider audience.

Betty Williams is an honorary freewoman for her “Outstanding service within Upton upon Severn, going above and beyond for the town and its people”.

She was a respected councillor on both the then Upton Parish Council and later the town council and also on the Malvern Hills District Council.

She produced and published the Upton News for many years, ensuring the community was informed of all things local. 

Local councils are able to exercise powers to confer the title of Honorary Freeman or Honorary Freewoman to persons of distinction and those who, in the council’s opinion, have rendered eminent services to the local community.

These are new awards in Upton upon Severn and recognise the efforts of individuals who have demonstrated outstanding commitment to the wellbeing of Upton upon Severn making unique, exceptional and long lasting contributions to the life of the town over a period of not less than 20 years.