EIGHT councillors are to become Honorary Aldermen of the Borough in recognition of their service and dedication to the community.
At a special full council meeting on Thursday, members were unanimous in their support of honouring the nominees put forward, who have each totalled more than 15 years on the authority.
They are, in order of longest service, Cllrs Brian Jones, Tony Sherlock, Brenda Dowding, Graham Smith, Peter Shephard, Myles Hogg, Marie Lewis and Kenny Spain.
They will be honoured at a formal ceremony where they will each receive a certificate to mark their outstanding contribution to the borough.
Councillors are usually required to have served 20 years to qualify for nomination but members resolved to amend it to 15 years to include Cllrs Lewis and Spain.
A total of 12 people have received the title in the past, including the likes of Stewart Hayward and Reg Chrimes.
Cllr Brian Jones, who has been a ward member for over 35 years, will be the only person to have served the borough council from when it was set up to when it disbands in March, a feat leader Justin Madders hailed as “remarkable”.
