It was an absolute privilege to have been invited as a member of the local press to the swearing in of Julie Hesmondhalgh as Freeman of the Borough of Hyndburn. From start to finish it was a wonderful evening of humour and rhetoric tinged with a hint of sadness. A very good description of the perfect TV script I would say.

Before all that though came the preliminaries.

Simon Brierley from 2BR and The Bee Radio opened the evening and introduced the Mayor of Hyndburn, Councillor Munsif Dad to the rostrum. The Worshipful Mayor summarily welcomed all present to the event then called upon Councillor Ken Moss to propose that “Julie Hesmondhalgh be conferred with the title of Honorary Freeman of the Borough.”

Councillor Peter Britcliffe seconded the proposal and then both returned to say a few words.  A show of hands from members of the council was requested by the mayor in support of the proposal.

Then the new Honorary Freeman was asked to step forward and sign the Roll of Honour and accept the badge of office, framed resolution and gift. For a seemingly solemn occasion there was much laughter and fun and that was part of the whole character of the event.

Now came Julie’s speech.

In it she first  thanked the mayor and Hyndburn Council and  Michael Cunliffe who organised this evening. Then she said how proud she was to be a Lancashire Lass and went on to thank her family whom she described as “three of the best people in the world.”

First she described her Dad, John who passed away recently as “wonderful, sensitive, poetic, funny and kind.”

Her Mum she described as “fierce, tough as old boots and unconditionally loving.” David, her brother, she said was her inspiration in many ways.

“It was Dave who encouraged me to go to drama school when I got the place in 1988.” Julie went on to say that Dave’s own daughter Rosa is there now and quipped: “We’ve become like one of those theatrical families who all go to the same drama school over generations.”

Other thanks included Ernest Street Baptist Church who instilled in her an ‘evangelical spirit’, Hyndburn Park Nursery and Junior School and in particular Mrs Olga Mulderrig who first planted the seeds for her career by encouraging her to do the English Speaking Board exams at the ages of eight and nine. Julie then thanked Mrs Hindley and Mr and Mrs Walmsley who taught her at Moorhead High School (now Accrington Academy) and said that, “Mr Walmsley’s rhyming couplet plays were my first taste of leading roles at Moorhead High School.”

Julie even had a mention for the now defunct Wardleworth’s saying: “Never underestimate the power of a fantastic independent bookshop and a brilliant library”

Next she thanked Accrington and Rossendale College:

“Those years between 16 and 18 were formative for me and where I found myself. Sitting in Elmfield Street with my new theatre studies friends, listening to Mozart, eating biscuits, putting the world to rights…it was at Accrington College that I met some of my greatest friends, friends for life.”

Martin Cosgrif who taught Julie at Accrington college and now lives in Stratford made the trip to be there for Julie’s big night and she spoke about him thus:

“Martin was a totally inspirational teacher. He taught us everything he knew to make it seem possible for us to be able to go to drama school and lead a different kind of life and become actors and he had so much faith in us all.

“While I was at LAMDA there were five of us from Accrington at LAMDA at the same time. That is just a testament to his talent.”

She went on to thank Martin saying:

“Thank you Martin for everything. I would not be here without you;  that’s for sure.”
This was followed by much applause.

Julie went on to thank Lancashire County Council saying: “Without my full grant… this wouldn’t have been possible.”

She then thanked Accrington Amateurs (now Accrington Theatre Group), Blackburn Drama Club and Oswaldtwistle Players who played a big part in her becoming an actor.

Then she turned her attention to Ian Kershaw, whom she described as, ‘my fantastic husband’.

She said; “I travelled miles, kissed many frogs and then I found him up the road in Oldham.”

She also described him as ‘an honorary Accringtonian’.

Then Julie turned her attention to Sylvia Lancaster and all at the Sophie Lancaster Trust, “for inspiring me with your tireless work, to make the world a better and more tolerant place.”

Where Julie Hesmondhalgh is concerned no speech would be complete without a special mention for Maundy Relief and the late, inspirational, Dorothy McGregor. This is what Julie had to say:

“Thank you to Dorothy McGregor who was Freeman of the Borough; who as you know, set up Maundy Relief and was a great friend of mine. She taught us all about real love and giving and charity. I want to say thank you to her amazing team, some of whom are here tonight – led by the incredible Lucy (Hardwick), who continues her legacy to this day.”

She went on to say:

" I ponce around on Mr and Mrs and The Cube and get all the glory and they are at the coalface every day dealing with extremely difficult cases of poverty and homelessness and hardship and Accrington would be a poorer place without you.”

Julie ended her speech by adding:

“And I totally, one hundred percent, share this honour with you Lucy, and all the team. Thank you for all you do.” Then to the audience: “Thank you all for being here tonight.” Rapturous applause and a standing ovation followed.

Julie came over as a wonderful, genuine, caring human being, a fact that was borne out in the second half of the evening by the people who know her and those whose lives she has touched over the years; a truly worthy recipient of the honour bestowed on her on this emotional evening at Accrington and Rossendale College.