THE leader of a city’s freemen is stepping down after a decade in the post.
John Heslop will stand aside as chairman of the wardens of the guilds of the City of Durham Freemen in December.
The 70-year-old former teacher led the Freemen as it welcomed women for the first time in its history and he has overseen a huge expansion in membership.
He said: “I have been lucky to work with some fantastic people. The collective enthusiasm I have received during my time made a time-consuming job that much more satisfying.”
Meanwhile, a respected lawyer has become chairman of the Freemen’s trustees.
Norman Hart, a former Durham Deputy Coroner who is now retired, succeeds Roger Norris, a former Durham Cathedral deputy librarian, who stood down after 20 years in the role.
The Freemen have also announced the death of Norman Donkin, a gentleman freeman and long serving member of the Mayor of Durham’s bodyguard.
Mr Donkin, formerly a joiner, was awarded an MBE for services to the city of Durham in 2001. He had been a member of the bodyguard from 1963. He died on Thursday (October 22), aged 96. A funeral date is yet to be fixed.
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