Freemen
We can give the title of Honorary Freeman to anyone who has, in our opinion, rendered eminent services to the borough.
This title is equivalent to the Freedom of the Borough and we can award it to a person or a corporate body.
The status of an Honorary Freeman is purely honorary in acknowledgement of the distinction of the person or recognition of their previous service. It does not give any special status to attend or address meetings of the council or any committee or sub-committee.
Our power to give this title is set out in Section 249(5) of the Local Government Act 1972.
List of Honorary Freemen in Rochdale borough
This table lists the names of Honorary Freemen of the borough and includes the date they were awarded the title.
| Name | Date of Admission |
|---|---|
| Sheila Acton | 19 October 2022 |
| Razia Shamim | 19 October 2022 |
| John Kay | 19 October 2022 |
| Dr Musharraf Hussain | 19 October 2022 |
| Ghulam Rasul Shahzad | 19 October 2022 |
| Saeed Dar | 19 October 2022 |
| Javed Akhtar | 19 October 2022 |
| Ali Asghar | 19 October 2022 |
| Kiera Walsh | 19 October 2022 |
| Mr Paul Ormerod | 18 December 2019 |
| Mr David Kilpatrick (deceased) |
18 December 2019 |
| Julie Goodyear MBE | 5 October 2017 |
| Major Edmund Gartside (deceased) |
8 April 2016 |
| Right Honourable Lord Joel Barnett (deceased) |
22 January 2014 |
| Rochdale Hornets RLFC | 22 January 2014 |
| Lance Corporal Stephen Shaw MC | 17 April 2013 |
| Mrs Margaret Geoghegan MBE | 22 February 2009 |
| Rochdale Association Football Club | 2 October 2008 |
| Mr Barrie Bernstein (deceased) |
26 November 2006 |
| Mr Norman F Smith MBE (deceased) |
3 October 2004 |
| Mr Peter L Roberts | 3 October 2004 |
| Mr Brian Leather | 3 October 2004 |
| Mrs Rosemary Giffin (deceased) |
3 October 2004 |
| Mr John E Beasley (deceased) |
3 October 2004 |
| Mr Brian Ashworth (deceased) |
3 October 2004 |
| Mr Robert Stott (deceased) |
3 April 1996 |
| Mrs Pamela N E Hawton, OBE (deceased) |
3 April 1996 |
| Mr Jim Callaghan (deceased) |
3 April 1996 |
| Mr Derrick Walker, OBE, JP (deceased) |
19 April 1993 |
| Mr John Towey, OBE (deceased) |
19 April 1993 |
| Mr Edward G L Collins, OBE | 19 May 1993 |
| The Mayor and Townspeople of Peine |
22 April 1992 (presented 20 May 1992) |
| HMS Middleton Royal Navy |
22 April 1992 (presented 20 May 1992) |
| The Mayor and Townspeople of the Town of Tourcoing |
27 August 1980 (presented 13 May 1981) |
| The Oberbürgermeister and Citizens of the City of Bielefeld |
24 August 1977 (presented 20 May 1978) |
| The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers | 24 August 1977 (presented 4 March 1978) |
| Mr G Syddall (previous admission by former Middleton Borough Council, 27 March 1974) (deceased) |
4 April 1974 |
| Mr H Nevin (previous admission by former Heywood Borough Council, 30 January 1974) (deceased) |
4 April 1974 |
| Mr W D Healey, JP (previous admission by former Heywood Borough Council, 30 January 1974) (deceased) |
4 April 1974 |
| Mrs S J Bentley (previous admission by former Heywood Borough Council, 30 January 1974) (deceased) |
4 April 1974 |
| Mr K B Moore, LL.M (previous admission by former Rochdale Borough Council, 28 November 1973) (deceased) |
4 April 1974 |
| Mr H S Fielden (previous admission by former Middleton Borough Council, 31 October 1973) (deceased) |
4 April 1974 |
| Mr F Johnston, OBE (previous admission by former Middleton Borough Council, 6 May 1966) (deceased) |
4 April 1974 |
| Mr A Emerson, JP (previous admission by former Middleton Borough Council, 6 May 1966) (deceased) |
4 April 1974 |
| Mr W D Chisholme, JP (previous admission by former Middleton Borough Council, 6 May 1966) (deceased) |
4 April 1974 |
| Mr A Wolstencroft, OBE, MM, JP (previous admission by former Middleton Borough Council, 6 May 1959) (deceased) |
4 April 1974 |
| Mr C Crowder, MA, OBE (previous admission by former Rochdale Borough Council, 18 July 1956) (deceased) |
4 April 1974 |
| Dame Gracie Fields, DBE (previous admission by former Rochdale Borough Council, 6 May 1937) (deceased) |
4 April 1974 |
Freedom of Entry was conferred on the XX Lancashire Fusiliers by the former C.B. of Rochdale on 5 June 1947.