The London Borough of Newham
presentation of Freedom of the Borough
and Honorary Alderman/Alderwoman
Thursday 19 May 2016
Old Town Hall, Stratford, E15
Foreword
The Mayor of Newham, Sir Robin Wales
to improve how we are perceived
locally, nationally and internationally.
Local government is not just a provider
of services that residents say are
important to them. We also have few
opportunities to be able to express
civic pride.
I am proud to be able to welcome you
to tonight’s Annual Meeting of Council
where we are awarding Freedom of
the Borough and the title of Alderman/
Alderwoman to some special people.
These awards are the highest the
Council can bestow. We offer them
sparingly, but when we do, they are
awarded to truly remarkable people
and tonight it is my privilege to pay
tribute to them all.
Each Freedom recipient and
Alderman/Alderwoman has made a
significant contribution to Newham life
past and present. Each of them has
a legacy that will be remembered for
many years to come. All of them are
ambassadors for our borough, helping
The freedom and alderman/
alderwoman systems are two of the
last vestiges of local government from
days gone by. What makes tonight’s
awards extra special is that their formal
approval by Councillors earlier this
evening was the final official business
of the 2015/16 municipal year, the
50th anniversary year since Newham
was formed from the amalgamation
of East Ham and West Ham county
boroughs at the start of the 1965/66
municipal year.
These days the awards do not confer
any rights or privileges. They are purely
honorary titles. I congratulate those
who are receiving awards this evening,
and welcome some of our past
recipients who are here with us.
Please enjoy the evening.
Honorary Freedom and
Alderman/Alderwoman
Introduction
Under the Local Government Act
1972, Councils can bestow the
Honorary Freedom of the Borough
to ‘persons of distinction and any
persons who have rendered eminent
services to the Borough’. Former
councillors can be conferred the title
of Honorary Alderman/Alderwoman
if in the opinion of the Council they
have rendered eminent services to
the Council. The origins of Alderman
can be traced back to the Municipal
Corporations Act 1835.
The Honorary Freedom of the Borough
is the highest distinction a local authority
can bestow on an individual. This
Act requires that a special resolution
conferring the Freedom of the Borough
must be passed by two-thirds of
members attending and eligible to vote.
Since the formation of the London
Borough of Newham in 1965, only 17
Freedoms have been conferred. Only
four people have been conferred with
the title of Honorary Alderman.
Freedoms and Aldermen/Alderwomen
are honorary positions and do not
possess the practical benefits once
enjoyed by their predecessors.
They have no legal, social or royal
precedence although they do play a
part in the civic and ceremonial life of
the borough.
The origins of the office of Freeman
can be traced back to ancient Rome
when to be ‘born free’ gave a citizen
special status and privileges. All
others owed allegiance to someone of
superior rank.
In Anglo-Saxon times, an individual’s
freedom was dependent on the
degree of obligation for service to the
Lord of the Manor. Later the Merchant
Guilds, growing in power and influence
in the towns, gained freedom for their
members from tolls of the overlords
and Crown. In many places, the
Freemen of the Guilds assumed the
functions of local government. The
craft Guilds were similarly organised
and their members were admitted as
Freeman after a long apprenticeship.
Before the Reform Act of 1832,
Freedom was derived from birth,
apprenticeship, gift or purchase and
in many Parliamentary Boroughs the
electorate consisted solely of such
Freemen.
The Scroll/Certificate
Each recipient of the Freedom of the London Borough of Newham and Alderman/
Alderwoman is presented with a certificate and a casket, and an illuminated scroll
at a later date. The certificate and scroll incorporate the decision of the Council to
confer the honour.
The text contained on the certificate at this ceremony is as follows:
Passed by the Council of the London Borough of Newham at a special
meeting held at the Old Town Hall, Stratford, on 19 May 2016.
That under and by virtue of the provisions of the Local Government Act
1972, the title of Honorary Alderman/Alderwoman of the London Borough
of Newham be conferred by the Council on:
Shama Ahmad MBE
Christine Bowden
Marie Collier
Kevin Jenkins OBE
Passed by the Council of the London Borough of Newham at a special
meeting held at the Old Town Hall, Stratford, on 19 May 2016.
That under and by virtue of the provisions of the Local Government Act
1972, the Honorary Freedom of the London Borough of Newham be
conferred by the Council on:
Shama Ahmad MBE
Christine Bowden
Lew Boyce
Paul Chelliah
Marie Collier
Valerie Fone
Keith Hasler
Kevin Jenkins OBE
Mark Noble
Devendra Patel
Newham and Essex Beagles Athletic Club
In recognition of distinguished service to the borough of Newham.
The Honorary Freedom
Past Recipients
List of persons on whom the Honorary
Freedom of the London Borough of
Newham has been conferred by the
Council
24 May 1979
Walter Edwin Hurford, MM
Margaret Scott
George Edward Smith
12 May 1983
John Alfred Kemp
28 November 1985
John Albert Hart, MBE
12 October 2000
Colonel Michael John Dudding,
OBE TD DL
Thomas James Duncan
Squadron Leader Mohinder Singh
Pujji, DFC PCS BA LLB
15 January 2004
Irene Poole
Khizr-E-Azam
14 May 2009
Christine Ohuruogu, MBE
27 May 2010
Commander Nick Bracken, OBE
Frances Clarke
Marie Gabriel
Michael Grier
Jack Petchey, OBE
23 June 2012
G Company 7 Rifles
Those conferred with the title of
Honorary Aldermen
12 October 2000
Marjorie Edith Helps, MBE
Stanley Hopwood
15 January 2004
Arthur Frank George Edwards
James Charles Riley
Outline of Achievements
Shama Ahmad MBE
Honorary Freedom
Honorary Alderwoman
helped form the Newham Muslim
Citizens Association and the Katherine
Road Community Centre.
In 1990 she was elected in Upton
ward, to become the first Asian
woman councillor in Newham. In 1994
and 1998 she was elected in Forest
Gate ward and in 2002, 2006 and
2010, in Forest Gate North ward.
Shama Ahmad, MBE, was a Newham
councillor from 1990 to 2014 and was
ceremonial mayor for the municipal
year 1996-97, the first Asian woman
in Britain to attain such a position.
Shama came to England in 1971. In
1972 she began volunteering in the
community, helping people to learn to
read and write English. She realised
quickly that the environment was very
different from where she was raised
and had to quickly adapt to British life
which in those days was less tolerant
of race and culture.
When an Asian student was murdered
in East Ham, Shama started a
campaign to eliminate racism and
forge a sense of community. She
She held a number of positions within
the council and represented Newham
on various external organisations and
as a school governor. She was known
and admired for supporting women who
were suppressed and underrepresented.
In 1993-94 Shama was appointed
deputy mayor and in 1996-97 she
became the first Asian woman to be
ceremonial mayor of Newham. She
was invited by the government of
Pakistan to return and exchange local
government policies.
In 1994 her husband Mahmood Ahmad
joined her as a councillor and in 2005
son Sharaf Mahmood became a
councillor. In 2002 Shama received an
MBE for services to the community in
Newham. She continues to support
organisations, charities and women’s
groups here and abroad. She is truly an
inspirational woman of achievement.
Outline of Achievements
Christine Bowden
Honorary Freedom
Honorary Alderwoman
In 1990 she achieved her ambition to
support and mentor unemployed and
disaffected young people, working
for charitable organisations including
Community Links in Canning Town.
Alongside her working life, Christine
remained politically active, motivated
by a desire for equality and social
justice to make life better. She was
first involved in local politics in the
1970s. By the 1990s she was Deputy
Leader at Brighton and Hove Council.
In 1996 she moved to Newham.
Christine Bowden served as a
Newham councillor from 2002 to
2010 and as Deputy Mayor from
2006 to 2010.
It is because of people like Christine,
with her commitment to justice,
that women today have the rights,
freedoms and opportunities that they
take for granted. She proved that not
only can women have interesting and
varied careers, but they can succeed
in all arenas, be that business, politics
or local government.
She started in advertising and
marketing, working in this area for
more than ten years. By the 1980s
she was living and working abroad,
first in Italy and later in Saudi Arabia
for the world’s largest oil company.
She was elected in 2002 for Manor
Park ward and from 2006 to 2010 in
Beckton ward. She helped deliver and
improve services for residents, served
on many committees and represented
Newham regionally and nationally
at London Councils and the Local
Government Association.
As Deputy Mayor her portfolio covered
human resources and industrial
relations. One of her proudest
achievements was delivering single
status for Newham, so that women
were paid the same as men.
Throughout more than 30 years
of service to public life, Christine
performed her duties with dignity,
charm and an engaging enthusiasm for
the people and organisations she met.
Outline of Achievements
Lew Boyce
Honorary Freedom
time as a duty station manager with
London Underground. He served as
a councillor at a time when many in
the community didn’t trust politicians,
and he contributed much to restore
confidence in the political system.
Lew Boyce served as a Newham
councillor for 12 years representing
the residents of Monega ward from
1982 to 1994. He, along with Frank
Jackman who was also elected
in 1982, was the first of African
Caribbean heritage to be elected to
the council.
During his time on the council Lew
served as Chief Whip and also
chaired the committee that introduced
the council’s first race relations
policy. He strived for race equality
throughout his working life, not just
as a councillor, but also during his
Lew was one of the founding
members of the Newham African
Caribbean Alliance, a coalition of
organisations who 30 years ago
fought to have a cultural centre for
the African Caribbean community in
Newham. As a result he served as
a director of the Newham African
Caribbean Resource Centre in
Plaistow from 1991 to 1999 and
was also secretary and chair of the
management committee.
Lew was a governor of Monega
Primary School for almost 20 years,
15 of those as chair. He has also been
instrumental in actively protecting the
health of Newham’s African Caribbean
communities for many years by
being involved with the Sickle Cell
Society and more recently with the
Association for Prostate Awareness
and CYANA (Cancer You Are Not
Alone) charity.
Outline of Achievements
Paul Chelliah
Honorary Freedom
He embodies the centre’s
commitment to develop services
in response to the changing needs
of vulnerable and marginalised
communities. It brings people
together and promotes cohesion.
It improves quality of life by offering
recreational, educational and support
services that include English classes
for adults, education projects for
children, school holiday programmes
and youth clubs and nursery facilities.
Paul Chelliah has served the
community for more than 30 years,
first as a volunteer at the Trinity
Centre in Manor Park, and latterly as
Centre Director.
The Trinity Centre is a registered
charity, established in 1972 to
provide education, recreation and
support services. It is a vibrant part
of community life thanks to Paul and
his staff.
Paul began as a volunteer and
became a paid caretaker in 1985.
He has done every job imaginable
from cleaning and cooking, to
administration, accounts, fundraising
and finance. Now, as Centre
Director, he is the key to the centre’s
continued success.
In 2010 Paul was invited by Prime
Minister Gordon Brown to Downing
Street to accept a Community Heroes
award. In 2011 he received an award
for services to the community from
the Indian Muslim Federation UK.
In 2015 he spearheaded the Trinity
Centre’s contribution to Newham
Council’s Spring Big Clean-Up.
When you visit the Trinity Centre, the
first thing you notice is the garden. It
began more than 12 years ago and
is cared for by Paul. It previously won
Newham in Bloom awards from 1998
to 2002 and symbolises the heart and
soul of the building.
Like many organisations in the voluntary
sector, the Trinity Centre faces financial
challenges, but under Paul’s stewardship
and innovative thinking, it continues to
offer valued services and activities.
Outline of Achievements
Marie Collier
Honorary Freedom
Honorary Alderwoman
Police Consultative Group, Lay Visitor
Panel and as a Borough Volunteer
Support Officer.
Marie has been involved in community
work since 1971 when she and her
family were the first to move into the
Baulkham Point tower block in Canning
Town. Marie became secretary of the
new tenants association, and through
this work, helped formulate other
tenants associations and community
centre management committees across
Newham.
Marie Collier was a Newham councillor
from 1998 to 2014, serving residents
in Ordnance ward on the first occasion
and Canning Town North ward for the
next three terms.
She served as Chair of Council and
was the first Civic Ambassador in
the 2002-03 municipal year, having
previously been deputy Mayoress in
1999 and Mayoress in 2000. During
her 16 years she chaired scrutiny
commissions covering subjects as
diverse as the night-time economy,
recycling waste policy, shaping
Newham and housing allocations.
Her council duties included visits
to Dominica, German twin town
Kaiserslautern, Pakistan, South Africa
and East Ham in Massachusetts, USA.
She also served as a member of the
Marie also became a qualified youth
worker and opened the Room at the
Bottom Youth Club in her tower block.
She also founded the Small Fry mother
and toddler club at Edith Kerrison
Nursery School and later became
school governor there for 33 years. She
also served on governing bodies of
Rosetta and Ellen Wilkinson schools.
She has raised funds for many charities
and continues to support Cancer You
Are Not Alone (CYANA), the Imps
motorcycle display team, Newham
Mayor’s Association and Newham
History Society.
Marie has always commanded the
utmost respect for her diligent service
and has been a key civic figure in an
ambassadorial role inside and outside
of Newham.
Outline of Achievements
Valerie Fone
Honorary Freedom
Val and Doug, who lived with multiple
sclerosis, were pivotal in campaigning
for equal access for disabled people
including access to East Ham Town
Hall and to council meetings. As a
council we believe that every Newham
resident has an equal right to play a
full part in our community. That we
take this for granted today is due in no
small measure to Val’s brave and, at
the time, ground-breaking work.
Valerie Fone has worked for disabled
people’s rights for almost 40 years as
a community worker, a carer and as
a local councillor. She was elected to
Newham Council in 1994 and 1998 in
Greatfield ward.
Val, initially with late husband Doug,
set up and led the Action and Rights
of Disabled People in Newham
organisation, a cross impairment
disabled people’s organisation that
promotes equality. It also helps
co-ordinate the Newham Transport
Action Group.
Val exemplifies the charity’s aim of
ensuring that disabled people are not
prejudiced based on their impairment.
It also ensures their full equality in
Newham’s mainstream activities.
Val continues to work tirelessly to
ensure that disabled people are not
discriminated against in any setting:
public, private or voluntary, or in any
context be it employment, leisure or
services.
She has never, in her various roles,
sought special treatment for disabled
people, instead she has worked
to ensure that disabled people
experience full equality in everything
that our borough has to offer.
Val has truly devoted her life to
others and has been instrumental
in patiently and doggedly shifting
attitudes towards disabled people
in Newham and in systematically
addressing the practical barriers
that would otherwise restrict
opportunity and limit participation in
the life of our borough.
Outline of Achievements
Keith Hasler
Honorary Freedom
a teacher and throughout his
career Keith taught at four different
secondary schools outside Newham.
Keith was elected in 1964 to represent
Park ward. He was re-elected in 1968
again in Park ward, and in 1971 and
1974 in Upton ward. He served 14
years in total, chairing the education
committee for the final four years,
at the time of the conversion to full
comprehensive schools and a period
of improvement in primary education.
When Newham was formed with the
amalgamation of the county boroughs
of East Ham and West Ham, residents
elected councillors in May 1964 to
meet as a shadow authority before
taking over officially the following year.
Keith Hasler was a councillor when
the first official meeting of Newham
Council took place on 1 April 1965.
Both his grandfathers were dockers
and his father worked in an tailor’s
sweatshop. His family were trade
unionists.
A former pupil at Plaistow Grammar
School, Keith went on to study at
King’s College London. He became
Keith was also chair of governors at
West Ham College of Technology,
which was run and funded by the local
authority, yet accepted as a school of
the University of London and able to
award internal degrees. The University
of East London was formed as a
conglomeration of the college and
the colleges of Barking and Waltham
Forest. Keith was heavily involved in
negotiating that marriage.
Most importantly Keith was instrumental
in persuading the Department of
Education and Science that Newham
should be regarded as inner London for
the purposes of teachers’ pay. It made
a significant difference to Newham’s
ability to recruit teachers.
Outline of Achievements
Kevin Jenkins
Honorary Freedom
Honorary Alderman
position last year. He has provided
opportunities for thousands,
particularly the most excluded,
enabling them to build trust and
confidence and overcome challenges
they faced.
Few people can have given more to
Newham than Kevin Jenkins OBE.
He has served local people with
tireless devotion through 28 years as
a Newham councillor and through his
work at the Canning Town care charity
Community Links.
Kevin was elected in Greatfield ward
in 1986, 1990, 1994 and 1998. In
2002, 2006 and 2010 he was elected
in East Ham South ward. Throughout
his council career he was influential
in developing strategy on early years,
play and youth, and the setting up and
supporting of emerging youth agencies.
Kevin co-founded Community Links
in 1977 and became Life President
on stepping down from a full-time
Kevin’s work is shared as best
practice across the country and is
based on a belief that investing in
children and young people should be
at the heart of any drive to regenerate
an area and build cohesion and
inclusion in a community. This includes
projects that divert young people
away from crime and offer support
to reduce repeat offending. Kevin
has also brought new money into
Newham, securing external funding
for 12 community facilities.
In 1996 Kevin was awarded an OBE
for his work at Community Links. In
2008 he won the Beacon Prize, known
as the Nobel Prize of the charity world.
Kevin also has supported innumerable
emerging community organisations
to develop themselves, including
Newham Consortium for Youth,
Newham Drugs Advice Service and the
Newham Bereavement Centre. He has
also worked tirelessly with Brampton
School, the Rainbow Community
Centre, the Greatfield Residents
Association and the Dying Well group.
Outline of Achievements
Newham and Essex Beagles Athletic Club
Honorary Freedom
national cross country championships
and road relay titles.
Newham and Essex Beagles AC are
one of the leading athletics clubs in
Great Britain and one of the most
famous names in UK athletics.
The club was formed in 1887 as
Beaumont Harriers but became Essex
Beagles in 1891 and then merged
with Newham Athletics Club in 1985
when they moved to the Terence
McMillan Stadium in Plaistow.
The club is fully inclusive and
welcomes athletes of all abilities. It is
affiliated to British Athletics, England
Athletics, and the Essex County
Athletics Association.
The club’s senior men won the British
Athletics League in 2008, 2009 and
2010. The club has also variously won
Fifteen Olympians have worn the
club’s colours, most famously
decathlete Daley Thompson CBE,
400 metres runner Iwan Thomas
MBE, high jumper Robbie Grabarz,
middle distance runner Mo Farah
CBE, and 400 metres star Christine
Ohurougu MBE, who received the
Honorary Freedom of Newham in
2009. The Beagles had 12 members
selected for the 2012 Games believed to be the highest number at
an Olympics by any British athletics
club. If the Beagles had competed as
a country, they would have finished
seventh in the 2012 medals table.
Getting young people involved in
sport is one of the club’s aims. The
Beagles Academy and Newham and
Essex Beagles foundation groups offer
coaching in running, throwing and
jumping, for very young ones, and then
a development group for older children.
The Newham and Essex Beagles
Disability Athletics Club has also
been operating since 2011 for
disabled children. It helps members
develop run, wheel, jump and throw
skills, as well as boosting teamwork
and social skills.
Outline of Achievements
Mark Noble
Honorary Freedom
appearances for the club scoring
more than 40 goals. He has also
played for England at various age
group levels.
Named club captain in 2015, Mark
celebrated his testimonial this year
in a game that saw many former
Hammers legends return to the
Boleyn Ground. Next season he will
move with the club to the Stadium in
Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.
The 2015-16 football season has
been a phenomenal one for Mark
Noble, the Canning Town-born
captain of West Ham United. He has
led a side challenging at the top of the
Premier League and enjoyed a starstudied testimonial match for 15 years
service to the club.
Mark has lived in East Ham, Beckton,
and Custom House. He went
to the former Woodside School
before moving to The Royal Docks
Community School. From playing
for his school side Mark progressed
to the West Ham United academy.
He made his debut as a 17-year-old
and has now made more than 360
As well as dedication to the football club,
Mark is dedicated to supporting the local
community. He is working with former
West Ham players Rio Ferdinand and
Bobby Zamora on a housing project
called Legacy that will offer social and
affordable homes. He is also a patron of
the Richard House Children’s Hospice
in Beckton and has been visiting young
people there since he first began playing
for the first team. Proceeds from his
testimonial went to the hospice.
Mark has twice been named Hammer
of the Year and is the epitome of
the local boy who has done well. He
encourages other young people to
follow his example by working hard,
be a good and respectful person and
look after your community.
Outline of Achievements
Devendra Patel
Honorary Freedom
Legion Poppy Appeal as well as for
various blind charities. He makes
donations of gifts or money to help
raise funds for various events across
the local communty, including street
parties.
Devendra has supported local
schools, especially Curwen Primary
School, and is always ready to assist
pupils and teachers. He also looks
out for local elderly residents and
others less fortunate, to ensure they
do not go without daily necessities
especially if they have little money.
Devendra Patel came to the United
Kingdom in 1961 and set up home
in Newham. In 1978 he started his
newsagent business in Plaistow and
from humble beginnings he is now
respected as a champion for the
local community.
Devendra is the Immediate Past
President of the London district of
the National Federation of Retail
Newsagents. Each year he takes part
in the Old Ben walk to raise money
for the NewstrAid Benevolent Fund,
the news trade’s own charity which
benefits individuals in the retail and
distribution section of the newspaper
and magazine publishing industry.
At his shop near Plaistow Station he
collects towards the Royal British
In addition to his charitable work in
the community, he is benefactor to a
number of projects in India. He has
paid for an entire classroom to be
set up and equipped. He also makes
annual donations to support work
within leprosy colonies in India.
Devendra also supports initiatives
to deal wth crime and anti-social
behaviour. He has often offered safe
refuge to young people who are
victims of bullying and also assisted
other vcitms of crime.
He is a well known, well liked
and highly trusted person in the
community who is always willing
to provide help and assistance
wherever possible.
Members of the Council of the
London Borough of Newham
The Mayor of Newham
Sir Robin Wales
Councillors
Hanif Abdulmuhit
Seyi Akiwowo
Aleen Alarice
Jose Alexander
Andrew Baikie
James Beckles
Freda Bourne
Stephen Brayshaw
Ayesha Chowdhury
David Christie
Ken Clark
Frances Clarke
Bryan Collier
Ian Corbett
Jo Corbett
Richard Crawford
Unmesh Desai
Canon Rev. Ann Easter
Rokhsana Fiaz
Clive Furness
John Gray
Alan Griffiths
Zuber Gulamussen
Patricia Holland
Lester Hudson
Forhad Hussain
Idris Ibrahim
Obaid Khan
Joy Laguda
Julianne Marriott
Susan Masters
Anthony McAlmont
Conor McAuley
Charlene McLean
Patrick Murphy
Farah Nazeer
Firoza Nekiwala
Ahmed Noor
Veronica Oakeshott
Mas Patel
Mukesh Patel
Salim Patel
Terence Paul
Rev. Quintin Peppiatt
Rohima Rahman
Tahmina Rahman
Ellie Robinson
Paul D Sathianesan
Kay Scoresby
Lakmini Shah
Amarjit Singh
Ted Sparrowhawk
Sheila Thomas
Rachel Tripp
Winston Vaughan
Harvinder Singh Virdee
Dianne Walls
John Whitworth
Tonii Wilson
Neil Wilson
London Borough of Newham
Coat of Arms
The Coat Of Arms consists of a shield
divided horizontally into two bands of
colours, the top red and the bottom
gold. In the top left-hand corner is a
ship in full sail (Commerce and Docks).
In the top right-hand corner are two
hammers crossed diagonally (Thames
Ironworks and Railway Works). In the
bottom half are three red chevrons. A
pale ermine band runs perpendicularly
through the centre of the shield, and
on this is a Bishop’s crosier in gold (the
Abbey). The shield is surmounted by a
wreath in red and gold, with a helmet
in gold in the centre, above which the
sun is rising in full splendour. Inclined
to the left is the pommel and hilt of
a sword in gold, and to the right the
crook of a crosier, also in gold. Motto:
“Progress with the People”.
Congratulations to our recipients
www.newham.gov.uk
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