Honour for 37 years of community spirit

Alison, third from left, with her Honorary Freedom of the Borough scroll. From left, Mayoress Catharine Woodliffe, Mayor Coun Stephen Woodliffe and the councils Chief Executive Phil Drury.

A volunteer described as '˜someone very special... a one off' who has been an active part of the community in Boston for 37 years has been given the Freedom of the Borough.

Alison Fairman, whose roles include being the current chairman of Boston in Bloom, was handed the honour at a special meeting of the full council last Monday.

She was nominated by Coun Claire Rylott and given the Freedom for ‘the significant contribution she has made to numerous organisations in the Borough area’.

She said: “Volunteering is very important to me; it is all about being a member of a team.

“Yes, we have challenges ahead in this time of austerity; we have the same challenges as every other town, we are not unique in that.

“Let’s not focus on what divides us, but let’s focus on what brings us together. We have got to be positive in what we are and what we can do together.

“Thank you for these amazing gifts and thank you for this singular honour, I hope to be worthy of it.”

Alison arrived in Boston in 1979, and has since been an active part of the community, working with a number of schemes and initiatives.

Coun Richard Austin said: “Alison stands out as someone very special – she is a one off. If anyone deserves the Freedom of the Borough it is Alison Fairman.

“She leads from the front and I don’t think I have ever heard her say a bad word about anyone.

“She cares for the people, heritage, image, the look and the future of Boston and the borough.”