Honorary Townsman Award

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 beIng 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 AND 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

 

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.