Former Mayor of Bury and long-serving councillor Roy Walker has been awarded the Freedom of Bury.

He was presented with the highest civic honour the borough can bestow at a special meeting of the full council on Wed 14 Dec.

Mr Walker was a councillor for Church ward (now Bury West) for nearly 40 years (1982-2021), and was the mayor in 1997-1998. During his long tenure he was leader of the council’s Conservative group and chaired the Environmental Health Committee among many other roles.

He served on the Greater Manchester Police Authority and Transport for Greater Manchester, and was chair of governors at Elton High School and Smith and Oldham Nursery, the forerunner of St Stephen’s Primary. He is also a member of the Falklands Islands Society.

His nomination was proposed by Councillor Russell Bernstein and seconded by Cllr Eamonn O’Brien, with supporting speeches by Cllrs Jacqui Harris, Carol Birchmore and Yvonne Wright.

They all paid tribute to his long service, sense of duty and hard work for his constituents.

The award was given “in recognition of the eminent, valuable and devoted services which he has rendered to the Bury Metropolitan Borough as a member of the council for 39 years between 1982 and 2021 and in recognition of the service he has provided the residents of Church ward with distinction and dedication, including holding office of Mayor of the Borough from May 1997 to May 1998. In recognition also of his significant contribution regionally and nationally”.

Mr Walker was presented with a framed certificate and a commemorative medallion.