A COMMUNITY has bestowed a rare honour on a parish councillor who stepped down this month after 37 years of service.
John Ashby was bowled over when Kirkby Malzeard Parish Council, near Ripon, took the unusual step of giving him freedom of the parish, which extends to Laverton and Dallowgill.
"I felt very proud and very touched to be presented with the illuminated scroll," said 70-year-old Mr Ashby who ran a village shop with his mother, Mabel, until 1972. Before then his mother and father had run the store in Kirkby.
Mr Ashby, who was presented with the award by par- ish councillor Ernie O'Keefe, said: "No one has told me what goes with the freedom. As far as I know no one else has ever been given this in Kirkby. If it's being able to graze sheep, I haven't got any."
He said he had enjoyed his time on the parish council immensely and had always done his best to try to help people.
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