Honorary Alderman Farrington

On Friday 1st December 2023, Patrick Farrington attended a ceremony to be presented by the Mayor of Stafford with a gold medal and scroll marking his appointment as an Alderman. If granted the Freedom of the Borough of Stafford it entitles you (amongst other things) to drive a herd of cattle or flock of sheep through the main high street. Whilst this title does not bestow that gift upon Patrick, he does have the right to have the title of Alderman Farrington !….(and one or two other benefits)….

The title of Honorary Alderman is given “in recognition of eminent services rendered to the Council of the Borough of Stafford in the years 2003 to 2023”, (20 years) which includes a number of positions of authority and responsibility, including serving sixteen years on the Cabinet and eight and a half years as Leader of the Authority, as well as many contributions to the Borough community. As part of his role, he has attended Downing Street twice, been to Buckingham Palace and attended Parliament and Government Ministries  on numerous occasions including giving evidence to a House Of Commons Select Committee on HS2.

The title and honour is conferred pursuant to Section 249 of The Local Government Act 1972. Patrick is able to use the title ad infinitum unless he takes up public office again in which case during that period the title is “suspended”.

Patrick is the youngest person ever to receive the honour granted by the Borough of Stafford. On receiving the title Patrick said “Despite going to many places and meeting various Ministers and senior civil servants, there has been no greater pleasure than helping people in my local community, be it delivering hot meals to the elderly, collecting prescriptions from the chemist and during Covid, acting as a volunteer to take people to vaccination centres when they had no access to transport, amongst many other things.”