UPDATE A PROPOSAL to elect composer John Barry and actress Dame Judi Dench as Honorary Freemen of the City of York will come before councillors next week.
Councillor Mark Waudby will ask the council to hold a special meeting to consider bestowing the honour on the two York-born stars.
Peter Stanhope, from Skelton, today welcomed the news that the proposal would reach the full council. He nominated them for the honour in November and April, and Coun Waudby is backing him as his ward councillor.
Mr Stanhope said: "These are two people who are children of York and proud to be so. By virtue of their chosen professions, which started in York where they received their initial training in music and drama, they have had to move away.
"Judi Dench is based in London and John Barry is based in America. They are still extremely distinguished people and recognised around the world and known to have come from York.
"My anxiety is to have these people honoured in their life time, not by a plaque on the wall after their death."
Coun Waudby said: "York people take great pride from the fact that John Barry and Dame Judi Dench were born and grew up in our city.
"After so many years of enjoyment and pleasure from their respective works, I hope that councillors and local residents will join me in recognising their achievements through the proposed award of the title of Honorary Freeman of the city."
Honorary freemen can be elected by councillors to "persons of distinction and any persons who have rendered eminent services to the borough" according to the Local Government Act 1972.
The most recent recipients of the title were Katharine Worsley, Duchess of Kent in 1989 and the Duke and Duchess of York in 1987.
Before that came Tom Cecil Benfield, in 1969, who was town clerk for the City of York from 1939 until 1969 and Edna Anne Crichton, in 1955, a long-serving councillor who was the first Lady Lord Mayor of York.
Thanks to Mike Kennedy for sending me this article which appeared on the This is York website on July 20, 2001.
