The title of ‘Honorary Townsman’ can be given to anybody in recognition of their services to the town of Wem and its people.
Nominations for the title of Honorary Townsman of Wem are considered each year by the Town Council at its May meeting with a final decision made at the June meeting.
A presentation evening is then held later in the year.
This title was first awarded in 1983 and listed below are all the recipients of this award from that date
1983 GEORGE E FURBER
CLIVE KYNASTON
JIM LEWIS
RUBY MUSGROVE
BILL TAYLOR
DON WOOLLAM
1984 DR J KEELING-ROBERTS
CHRISTOPHER H SIMMONS
1985 SANDY LYLE
1987 MRS EMILY E ASTLY
BRIAN BAILEY
LES BUTLER
JOHN DROMGOOL
1988 MR R LEE
MRS R LEE
MRS GWEN REEVES
1989 FREDERICK L BOXALL
MRS BERYL DAVIES
CLLR TOM GROOM JP
D J WOOLLAM
1990 MRS JOAN GERMAN
BRIAN PERRY
SYBIL RUSCOE
1992 MRS DIANA STRONG
1993 BILL GREAVES
1994 MRS SHEILA GOUGH
CHARLIE THORLEY
1999 MRS NANCY WILSON
2001 JOHN PHILLIPS
2002 LINDA ETHERINGTON
2003 T F EDWARDS
2004 JOHN GOOD
VAL GOOD
2006 ALAN WALKER
ALLEN EVANS
2007 EVELYN HINTON
EDITH O'RAHILLY
2008 PHIL SMITH
IAN FINCH
2009 ALAN DENISON
LARRY JENKINS
2011 TIM GRIFFITHS
ELSIE GRIFFITHS
2013 SUE HOLLIDAY
2014 PEGGY CARSON
MRS THELMA BROOM
2015 MRS WYLLIS TURNER
2016 MRS MARGARET SIMMONS
2017 ROGER ASHTON
ROD OWENS
2018 RICHARD LEAR
MRS DEE LEAR
2021 PAULINE DEE
CHRIS MELLINGS
2022 JOHN MURRAY
2023 CLAIRE GLOVER
2024 S JOHN ROBERTS
OLIVER RICHARDSON
2025 SHELAGH RICHARDSON
GREG DAVIES
Each year since 1983 at the Annual meeting of Wem Town Council, that takes place towards the end of May, the Councillors have the opportunity to undertake one of their more enjoyable duties on behalf of all in Wem, that of considering whether they can make suitable nominations for ‘The Honorary Townsman’s Award’. This is the highest honour that can be conferred by them and is not undertaken lightly. The title of ‘Honorary Townsman’ was created so:
‘that Town and Parish Councils may bestow it on those who have given notable service to the community or who have achieved something note-worthy or spectacular’
It is only given to someone who the Town Council wishes to honour in this way and then record their name for posterity on the Town’s Honours Board for this purpose, and on the town’s files and archives as an ‘Honorary Townsman’. As such they will become part of a very special and select group of people. You will therefore understand that this is an important matter and needs serious consideration! If no suitable nominations are received at this meeting the matter is not discussed for another year because something of the high value placed on the Award is then shown by it’s being a limited and special honour, given to no more than two people in any one Civic year. We as Councillors feel such an honour is so important that it is simply not given if no suitable names are put forward.