Four people who epitomise the best of Bury have been granted the borough’s highest civic honour. But a fifth who was granted the award, England and Newcastle United full back Kieran Trippier, had to miss the ceremony as he was busy helping his team reach a Wembley cup final.
Trippier, 32, grew up in Summerseat and attended Holcombe Brook Primary School and Woodhey High School in Ramsbottom. The former, Manchester City, Burnley, Spurs and Atletico Madrid ace was due to be awarded the Freedom of Bury at a special meeting of the full council on Tuesday, January 31 and be presented with a medallion and scroll along with four other people granted the honour.
But Newcastle’s Carabao semi-final second leg meeting with Southampton, where they won the right to meet Manchester United in the final on February 26, clashed with the event. Bury Council said it had agreed to award the Freedom of Bury to the England footballer in recognition of his outstanding performances, which included a semi-final goal, representing England in the FIFA World Cup of 2018 and a second time in Qatar 2022, and the ‘continued inspiring effect these sporting achievements have had on the children of the borough’.
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A council spokesman said: “Mr Tripper was unavailable to attend Tuesday’s ceremony due to his club side Newcastle United’s fixture against Southampton, and will be presented with his medallion and scroll at a later date.”
The other four people honoured were Itzik Alterman in recognition of the long and outstanding service he has rendered for 35 years through his involvement with the 45 Aid Society and general Holocaust remembrance events.
Akram Baig was honoured for his contribution to community work in Bury for over 25 years and in recognition of his service over the years with the Jinnah Day Care Centre, Bury Council for Racial Equality and as founder member of the Bury Defence Academy. Dorothy Gunther was a councillor for 27 years between 1992 and 2021, representing the wards of Ramsbottom and North Manor, including holding office of Mayor from 2017 to 2018.
The final recipient was Trevor Holt, who represented East ward for 39 years between 1983 and 2022, and was the Mayor of Bury twice in 1996/97 and 2019/20.
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