HISTORY has been made in Lyme Regis as a dedicated fundraiser has officially become the town’s youngest ever Freeman.
Joshua Denning, 20, was awarded the Honorary Freedom of the Town of Lyme Regis by the town council at a special ceremony in the Guildhall.
Members of Lyme Regis Town Council voted unanimously in October to bestow the honour on Joshua in recognition of the support he has given and funds he has raised for local organisations.
It was also in recognition of his recent ITV Westcountry Pride of Britain Fundraiser of the Year Award.
Surrounded by his family, friends and councillors, Joshua was presented with his Freedom scroll and the ‘keys to the town’ at the ceremony on Friday night (15 November).
Speaking at the event, the mayor Cllr Philip Evans said: “Tonight, we make history for Lyme Regis and this is where the history of this town has taken place over hundreds of years.
“These events don’t happen very often, in fact twice in the last 60 years.
“This is a very special time. Very special for this council but particularly special for one young man. You know who I’m talking about and he’s about to become the youngest Freeman of Lyme Regis at the age of 20.”
Cllr Evans gave a special welcome to former town crier Phil Street, who was awarded the Freedom of the Town in 2011 and is the only surviving Freeman of Lyme Regis, and Anita Williams, daughter of the late Stan Williams, a former mayor and deputy mayor who was the last person to be made a Freeman in 2021.
The mayor said he wanted to reward those who worked hard for the town and granting Honorary Freedom was the highest honour the council could bestow.
He said: “What Joshua has achieved since he was nine-years-old has been absolutely fantastic and the amount of money he has collected is astronomical.
“There is absolutely no doubt he has been a star of this town for many years and becoming the Westcountry Pride of Britain winner, receiving the most nominations anyone had ever had, he has actually brought a huge amount of publicity to our town.”
Cllr Evans also paid tribute to Joshua’s family, especially mum Annette who was presented with a bouquet of flowers, and brother Jacob, who he called ‘an extraordinary young man’ for his own achievements and for supporting his older brother.
Presenting the certificate, Cllr Evans said: “We are so proud of you in this town and we hope you will hang this in your house so that everybody who walks into your house knows that you are a Freeman of Lyme Regis.
“It’s my greatest pleasure as mayor of the town to present this wonderful achievement to a wonderful young man, who has set the standard of young people working for their community.
“Joshua Denning, you are now the youngest Freeman of Lyme Regis.”