Posted by Medway Council voted unanimously to confer the “honorary freedom of the borough” on the Royal Engineers, at a special meeting last Thursday.
The freedom of the borough is the highest honour a Council can give and all but two of the 55 Medway Councillors were present and voted for the motion, which read:
In pursuance of the power vested in it by virtue of section 249 of the Local Government Act 1972, the Council confers the honorary freedom of the borough on the Corps of Royal Engineers in perpetuity, in the interests of cementing and fostering the close and longstanding bonds of friendship and mutual respect existing between the Corps of Royal Engineers, Medway Council and its predecessor authorities.
In a rare act during the discussion, the Mayor and Deputy Mayor of Medway also spoke on the topic, which was dear to the hearts of many of the Councillors assembled.
I for one welcome the move, as a great recognition of the tremendous work that the Royal Engineers do and marking the first ten years of the Medway Unitary Authority.
Discussion
All “quotations†are not verbatim as my tired little hands were not able to write fast enough to catch every word, although I have tried to quote what I can, and where I believe it to be verbatim and of particular interest, I have written it in ‘inverse commas’.
Cllr Rodney Chambers (Con, Hempstead and Wigmore). Without the Royal Engineers, no professional mechanised army can move forward. Long association withe Medway. Reminded all of the RE’s FA Cup record*. Activities in Northern Ireland – particularly bomb disposal. Medway is predominantly a Naval & Military area – more Military since the Dockyard shut in 1984. Noted recent disquiet in media over lack of appreciation. “It is right and fitting that we recgonise the public appreciation”. We should use this to recognise 10 years of the Unitary Authority.
* The Royal Engineers played in the first ever FA Cup final and lost to Wanderers. In 1985, they beat Old Etonians in the fourth FA Cup final. Source: Wikipedia.
Cllr Paul Godwin (Lab, Chatham Central) was happy to support the motion put forward by the Leader of the Council, but decided to be brief because the Labour Group had decided that Cllr Harriott would be their main speaker on this subject, given his ties with the Royal Engineers.
Cllr Geoffrey Juby (LD, Gillingham South) wasn’t at the last meeting, where this idea was first proposed, but is happy it was brought forward. “We may not like the wars they serve in, but we are happy to have them”. Hoped motion could be supported unanimously.
Cllr Nicholas Brice (Con, Rochester South and Horsted). On behalf of the people of Medway we are asked to give a voice for people to confer the freedom of the borough
Cllr Paul Harriott (Lab, Twydall) sported his Royal Engineers tie as he said that the Royal Engineers are “known worldwide by people and politicians alike for their fighting skills. They are soldiers first and tradesmen second”.
Cllr Stephen Kearney (LD, Gillingham South). Our Country does not always recognise and appreciate our armed forces. This is only a small thank you, but it means so much to them and the people of Medway.
Cllr Alan Jarrett (Con, Lordswood and Capstone). Our Armed Forces go about their duties in a very professional way – they leave people at home to squabble about the rights and wrongs of the campaigns they are fighting. And it is not just the men in uniform we need to praise, but also those who support them.
Cllr Diana Smith (LD, Watling). Delighted to support this – can’t wait to see the priviledge of seeing Royal Engineers marching through the centre of Medway.
Cllr Roy Hunter (Con, Rainham South). Apologised – had to close down parts of London whilst working duing the Northern Ireland troubles. Saw the Royal Engineers’ bomb disposal work first-hand.
Cllr Nicholas Bowler (Lab, Rochester East, Deputy Mayor). Joked “I’ve been quiet for long enough”*. Passionate about the Military. Fully support this. Very good thing we are doing.
* As Deputy Mayor, Cllr Bowler was not usually given the right to speak at Council meetings, however the Mayor, Cllr Val Goulden, extended that right to both of them for this special meeting. Thus Cllr Bowler joked “I’ve been quiet for long enough”. Having seen his performances at Development Control meetings, I beg to differ!
Cllr Herbert Crack (LD, Watling). Definitely support this – and certainly won’t be looking too closely at the costs involved.
Cllr John Ward (Con, Rochester South and Horsted). Moved to Medway 11 years ago and quickly discovered the Military connection. “This is one of the best things Medway has done”.
Cllr Richard Andrews (Con, Strood South). “This is the best thing we can do as a Council”.
Cllr Val Goulden (Lab, Luton and Wayfield, Mayor). Thanked the Leader of the Council for this motion. It will make a lot of people happy – including her late Dad, who is a former RE member.
The motion was carried by 53 votes to 0.
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I didn’t really want to be the first to comment on this, so have waited for a while. Pity no-one else commented during the past week or so…
I just wished to re-iterate my own feelings, having come into an area with a military connection — though nowhere near my (then new) home — and then getting much closer to it when I was elected.
This was important, and really signified much more than what was “on the tin”. It goes beyond that (as we discussed in my Group in the interval between the Motion and this Special Meeting) as a recognition of what our Armed Forces really do — and that was always the intention.
I made my comments in that full knowledge, and was so very pleased to be able to do so.