Seaford Scene January 2020

Freedom of the
Town for Keith
Blackburn
Seaford Town Council was pleased to announce
at a council meeting in February that
Mr Keith Blackburn had been
awarded Freedom of the Town.
By invitation of the Mayor, Cllr
Nazish Adil, a service was held on
Saturday 23rd November at St
Leonard’s Church to honour and
present to Mr Blackburn a Freedom
of the Town Medal and Scroll. The ceremony was a
celebration of his dedication and service to the town.
The service was led by the Mayor’s Chaplain, Rev’d
Arwen Folkes and Rev’d Paul Owen.
Invited guests who attended included: the Deputy
Lieutenant of East Sussex, Mrs Juliet Smith JP; the
High Sheriff of East Sussex, Mrs Violet Hancock and
her husband Mr Tim Hancock; the Sergeant at Mace,
Mr Peter White; Honorary Freeman of the Town, Mr
Laurie Holland; Young Mayor James Jenkins; Deputy
Young Mayor Chanel Pritchard; the Town Clerk, James
Corrigan; past mayors, councillors, colleagues; friends
and family.
A buffet reception was held following the service at
The View at Seaford Head, where the Pop Up Singers
provided entertainment.
The Town Council awards the honour of Freedom
of the Town to a person in recognition of the efforts
of members of the community who demonstrate
outstanding commitment to the wellbeing of
Seaford. The Town Council only does this in special
circumstances that meet the criteria within its
adopted policy, by awarding to an individual the title
of Honorary Freeman/Freewoman of Seaford. This
honour is awarded only on rare and exceptional
occasions.
Keith joins this esteemed group of people who include:
current Freeman of the Town, Mr Laurie Holland, and
the late Don Mabey MBE, who were both awarded
8 Please mention Seaford Scene when contacting advertisers
in 2012; the 210
(Sussex) Field
Squadron RE
(TA) awarded in
1959; The Duke
of Richmond
and the Rt Hon
William Pitt (The
Younger) in 1789.
Keith has
dedicated hundreds of hours of
voluntary time to helping make
Seaford a greener and more
pleasant town to live in. He is
Chairman of the Tree Wardens,
which has included ‘hands-on’
tree planting of more than 1,400 trees,
interreacting with businesses and community groups,
individuals and Seaford Town Council, fundraising and
organising and participating in public meetings.
He was a key catalyst in developing, commissioning and
handing over control of the much loved Shoal Bench
near Splash Point. Keith has also been the Chairman of
the Neighbourhood Plan Steering group, which aims to
protect greenfield sites and decide where new housing
can be built – this has ensured that brownfield sites
have been identified. It will also ensure that Seaford
receives 10% more Community Interest Levy (CIL)
funding which is worth tens of thousands of pounds
to the Town. He is also Chair of the Natural History
Society, and a Board Member of Impact Seaford.
Keith is quoted as saying: ‘It is a great honour to be a
Freeman of Seaford, especially as it is a recognition of
the value of volunteers working closely on projects
with the Town Council. A lot can be achieved by
partnership working. If you have secretarial, IT, project
management, financial or practical skills and would like
to volunteer to help with a project to make Seaford
an even better place to live, work and relax, please
contact keithblackburn@live.co.uk.
Photos top to bottom: Keith Blackburn and the Mayor of
Seaford Cllr Nazish Adil being handed the Freedom of the
Town Scroll; (l-r) Freeman of the Town Mr. Laurie Holland,
High Sheriff of East Sussex, Mrs Violet Hancock,
Sergeant at Mace, Mr Peter White. Courtesy of, and
thanks to, Chris Conil.