Major Edmund T Gartside TD DL MA has been made an Honorary Freeman of the Borough, the highest civic honourthat can be bestowed on an individual in the borough.
The Freedom of the Borough was awarded to Major Gartside, 82, at a special conferment ceremony held at Rochdale Town Hall on Friday (8 March).
Councillors at the ceremony agreed to honour Major Gartside, a lifelong resident of Bamford, because of his work developing and promoting the Armed Forces Community Covenant within the borough, as well as his work on behalf of the Fusiliers Association Rochdale and the Royal British Legion Rochdale branch.
The Freedom of the Borough is rarely used and only awarded to residents who have made a significant contribution to the locality or have achieved something outstanding.
At the ceremony the Mayor, Councillor Surinder Biant, said:
“I am honoured to recognise those who have given so much to the community. Edmund Travis Gartside is one of those people who has given so much over many years of service. This award is well deserved.”
A drinks reception was held in honour of Major Gartside before he was invited to accept his accolade at the official ceremony, by signing the Freedom of the Borough scroll.
Valerie Gartside, Major Gartside’s wife of 33 years, spoke on behalf of her husband:
“Edmund feels very honoured to be in this situation. We would like to thank those who proposed him for the honour and everyone who shared the occasion with us. After 63 years of serving his community Edmund is now taking life easier and enjoying his retirement with his family.”
Major Gartside was also a successful businessman who sat on the council of the Institute of Directors and was High Sheriff of Greater Manchester from 1995-1996.
He served in the Lancashire Fusiliers, commanding a TA company in Rochdale, and is a director of the Fusiliers Museum in Bury.
