Three Bury residents awarded Freedom of the Borough for decades of public service

Tuesday, 27 January 2026 19:55

By Adam Clark

The Mayor of Bury, Cllr Noel Bayley, is pictured with (left) Cllr Joan Grimshaw and her husband Paul, and (right) Keith and Helen Atkinson. Credit: Bury Council

Three people described as among the very best of Bury have been granted the borough’s highest civic honour in recognition of decades of service to local communities.

Long serving foster carers Keith and Helen Atkinson and Unsworth councillor and former mayor Joan Grimshaw were formally awarded the Freedom of the Borough at a special full council meeting on 26 January. Family members, friends and former colleagues attended the ceremony, where each recipient was presented with a commemorative medallion and scroll.

Freedom of the Borough has been Bury’s highest honour since 1885. It is awarded to individuals who have made an exceptional contribution to the borough or to national life in a way that enhances Bury’s reputation. Past recipients have come from civic life, charity, sport, the arts and the armed forces.

Keith and Helen Atkinson have fostered children and young people for around 30 years. During that time they have supported children, teenagers and unaccompanied asylum seeking minors, some for short periods and others for many months or years. Alongside fostering, they act as ambassadors for Foster with Bury, helping to recruit, train and support new foster carers.

They were nominated by councillor Lucy Smith, who told the council their commitment had helped change lives. She said providing a stable and loving home could open opportunities for children who simply needed a chance.

Mr Atkinson said the couple were taken by surprise when they were told they would receive the honour. He said it had been a privilege to care for the young people who had come into their lives and noted that some of those they had fostered were present at the ceremony with families of their own.

Councillor Joan Grimshaw is stepping down this year after more than two decades in local government. She served as a councillor for Whitefield and Unsworth for 23 years and was Mayor of Bury in 2012. Alongside her council work, she spent more than 30 years working as an NHS nurse and has been involved with a wide range of community groups and council committees.

She was nominated by councillor Russell Bernstein, who said her career in nursing and public service reflected her commitment to caring for others and described her as a respected role model.

Councillor Grimshaw said she had loved her time on the council and valued the opportunity to be involved in local issues and community life throughout her years of service.

Previous recipients of the Freedom of Bury include film maker Danny Boyle, the band Elbow, paralympian Zoe Robinson and the late Colonel Eric Davidson. The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers remains the only organisation to have been granted the honour.

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