Borough sporting heroes, Fatima and Margaret Whitbread, were presented with their Freedom of the Borough Awards by Cllr Sue Shinnick, the Mayor of Thurrock, and Cllr Lynn Worrall, Leader of Thurrock Council.
They had been unable to attend a ceremony in the Council Chamber last month, so the Mayor and the Leader took their awards to them this week.
Cllr Shinnick said: “It is a real honour to present these awards to two of the borough’s sporting and Olympic heroes. It honours not only their incredible athletic achievements but also the community work they have done promoting not only sport but in advocating for children in care.”
Cllr Worrall added: “I was delighted to get the chance to be here today as these two remarkable women received their Freedom of the Borough Awards.
“It is especially poignant for me because Margaret was my PE teacher at school. I might not have reached the heights of international athletic achievement that Fatima has, but I have happy, and exhausting, memories of school sports thanks to Margaret.”
Freedom of the Borough is the highest award Thurrock Council can give. Margaret and Fatima Whitbread have been honoured for their contributions to the sport and community in Thurrock and for advocating for children in the care system.
