Agenda and minutes

The proposal to create a new Honorary Freewoman, Wozzy Brewster and a

new Honorary Freeman, Sir Ian Mills was proposed by the Mayor who

recounted their significant contributions to public life in the borough and urged

the Council to support their nominations.

The Mayor indicated there would be individual ceremonies for each recipient

in 2018, at which time there would be the opportunity for members to offer

individual tributes.

The recommendations were seconded by Councillor Kevin Bonavia, who

acknowledged the contribution of Wozzy Brewster and spoke further about

the contribution of Sir Ian Mills, who was well known to him owing to his

involvement in multiple projects in Blackheath. Both the mover and seconder

stressed that the honour was richly deserved and was being awarded by the

entire Council on behalf of the whole of the wider Lewisham community.

The Chair then put the recommendations to the vote and these were

confirmed to be carried unanimously by 35 votes to nil.

RESOLVED that

(1) Pursuant to Section 249 of the Local Government Act 1972, Sir Ian Mills

be admitted as an Honorary Freeman of the London Borough of Lewisham

in recognition of his service to the Borough and its citizens over many years. He has played roles not only in Lewisham but across the city including for the London NHS. He was a transformational chair of Age Exchange leading it to become the key hub it is today for Blackheath. He has been the founding chair Youth First helping to secure quality provision for our young people. His personal contribution to its launch has been extraordinary and he continues to support our young people with an enthusiasm and a commitment that epitomizes a lifetime of service and demonstrates why he is an appropriate recipient of the highest award the borough can make.

(2) Pursuant to Section 249 of the Local Government Act 1972, Wozzy Brewster OBE be admitted as an Honorary Freewoman of the London Borough of Lewisham in recognition of her service to the Borough and in particular its young people. She grew up in Deptford and has been making a difference to young people here ever since helping many of them become involved in music and arts.. She founded the Midi Music Company and is still running it today.  Her wider involvement in the life of the borough includes Deptford City Challenge whose board she sat on and she has also been an extraordinary ambassador for Lewisham creating and delivering international youth arts projects in Italy, Lithuania, Ireland, Germany, USA and Mauritius. She has been a marvelous source of advice, encouragement and inspiration to many in Lewisham of all ages demonstrating why she is an appropriate recipient of the highest award the borough can make.

The meeting closed at 7.24pm