Islington Council to honour local firefighters with Freedom of the Borough

Islington Council has announced it will award the Freedom of the Borough upon the brave officers and firefighters of Islington and Holloway fire stations.

 

The Mayor of Islington, Cllr Una O’Halloran, made the announcement at Full Council on Thursday.

 

She said: “This is the highest honour the council can bestow, and I cannot think of a more deserving institution or group of people to receive it.

 

“Our firefighters and officers really are shining examples of the best of Islington, and I will be honoured to make them Freepersons of the Borough during my Mayoral year.”

 

Cllr Richard Watts, Leader of Islington Council, added: “This award recognises the dedication and commitment of London Fire Brigade to our borough day in and day out, as well as the heroic actions of our firefighters and officers in response to the Grenfell Tower fire.

 

“These people literally risk their own lives to save ours, walking into situations most of us would run from. It will be our privilege to recognise them with the award of Freedom of the Borough.”

 

The Mayor of Islington will officially present the Freedom of the Borough at a special meeting that will take place alongside the Mayor’s Civic Awards Ceremony on 15^th March, 2018.

 

Paul Hobbs, London Fire Brigade’s borough commander for Islington, said: “I am truly honoured and so proud that we as a team have been chosen to receive the highest award a borough can present.

 

“This award is in recognition of all the work we all do in the borough every day, from operational incidents large or small, to preventative community safety work including home fire safety visits.”

 

Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, also gave his backing to the honour.

 

He said: “I am incredibly proud of the officers and firefighters of the London Fire Brigade, and the work they do to keep us all safe. In recent weeks we have seen once again the heroism of these brave people in response to the tragic events in our city.

 

“I am delighted that Islington Council is giving them this honour to recognise the incredible contribution they make to the borough.”

 

Further details about the ceremony will be confirmed nearer the time. 

 

 

---

For further information please contact:

Stephen Moore
Senior Media Officer
Islington Council 
Upper Street, London, N1 2UD
Tel: 020 7527 8004 
Alternative contact: Media line 020 7527 2307
www.islington.gov.uk
Follow us on Twitter @IslingtonBC and @IslingtonLife