Three of the best receive Bury’s highest honour

Three Bury residents have been awarded Freedom of the Borough in recognition of their long public service.

They are long-serving foster parents Keith and Helen Atkinson, and Unsworth councillor and former mayor Joan Grimshaw, who is standing down this year.

They were presented with commemorative medallions and scrolls at a special meeting of the full council last night (26 Jan), joined by their family and friends.

Since 1885, Freedom of the Borough has been the highest honour that Bury can grant. Recipients are those who have made a strong contribution to Bury, or to national life which has enhanced the reputation of the borough. This could be in art or sport, business, charitable work or civic service.

Keith and Helen Atkinson have fostered young people for 30 years; from children, teenagers and unaccompanied minors seeking asylum, some for a few days and others for several months or years. As ambassadors for Foster with Bury, they also help to recruit, train and encourage new foster carers.

Cllr Lucy Smith formally nominated the Atkinsons for the honour, saying their 30 years of fostering had helped to turn lives around. “By giving a stable loving home to a child, it can open up a world of opportunities and give a young person who just needed a chance a whole new world.”

Mr Atkinson said the couple were ‘gobsmacked” on being told they were to receive the honour. “It’s been an honour to serve and look after the young people we have had,” he said, mentioning that the audience included people they had looked after who now had their own families.

Cllr Joan Grimshaw worked as an NHS nurse for more than 30 years, and has represented residents in Whitefield and Unsworth as a councillor for 23 years. She was Mayor of Bury in 2012, as well as serving on numerous committees and working with a wide range of community groups.

Nominating her, Cllr Russell Bernstein said her long career as an NHS nurse spoke volumes about her character and desire to look after others. “She is a legend and an outstanding role model,” he said.

Cllr Grimshaw said she had enjoyed every minute of her time on the council, adding: “I always wanted to be involved with everything, and I’ve loved the job, the people, and the community.”

Previous recipients of the Freedom of Bury include the film-maker Danny Boyle, the rock band Elbow, paralympian Zoe Robinson, and the late Colonel Eric Davidson. The only organisation to be granted Freedom of the Borough is the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers.

ENDS

Press release issued: 27 January 2026

Picture: The Mayor of Bury, Cllr Noel Bayley, is pictured with (left) Cllr Joan Grimshaw and her husband Paul, and (right) Keith and Helen Atkinson.