Picture special: Legacy event honours Freemen

Firefighter Brian Dunlop, Station Commander William Laverty, Area Commander Gary Thompson, Station Commander Mark Beresford and firefighter Pearce Knocker at the Newtownabbey civic legacy event. The NI Fire Brigade was awarded the Freedom of the Borough in May 2000. INNT 13-005-GR

Over the past 33 years, 10 individuals and 10 organisations received the council’s highest honour in recognition of their eminent service to the borough.

During the event, which marked the end of Newtownabbey Borough Council due to the reorganisation of local government, Mayor Thomas Hogg paid tribute to the Freemen, presenting many of them, or their representatives, with special mementos to mark the occasion.

Council chief executive, Mrs Jacqui Dixon, read the Roll of Freemen:

The late Bertram Bickerstaff JP, June 1, 1982

The late Doris E. Robb JP, June 1, 1982

The Royal Ulster Constabulary and Royal Ulster Constabulary Reserve, June 1, 1984

The Ulster Defence Regiment, March 11, 1989

The Royal Irish Rangers 27th (Inniskilling), 83rd & 87th, May 5, 1990

The late Sidney R. Cameron, October 31, 1992

The Royal Air Force, April 17, 1993

321 Explosive Ordnance Disposal Squadron, Royal Logistics Corps, October 30, 1993

The Royal British Legion, May 11, 1996

Dr Willie John McBride MBE, April 24, 1997

The late George L. Herron JP, May 28, 1998

The Northern Ireland Fire Brigade, May 24, 2000

James J. Rooney MBE, May 26, 2001

Northern Ireland Burma Star Association, April 6, 2002

The Royal Navy, Royal Marines and their Reserves and Associations, May 18, 2002

The late Tommy McTeague, November 24, 2005

Cllr Fraser Agnew MBE, March 9, 2007

Wolf-Dietrich Albert Reinacker, October 9, 2008

Norman Dunn MBE, October 29, 2009

The Merchant Navy, April 4, 2012

• Watch the legacy celebration event video by clicking here.