At a meeting of the Borough Council held on Wednesday 19 th December 2012 at 7.30pm in the Lampton Park Conference Centre at the Civic Centre, Lampton Road, Hounslow

Present: The Mayor, Councillor Pritam Grewal (in the Chair) The Deputy Mayor, Councillor Mindu Bains

Councillors: Alan Barber, Lily Bath, Colin Botterill, Mark Bowen, Ruth Cadbury, John Chatt, Steve Curran, Ajmer Dhillon, Gopal Dhillon, Poonam Dhillon, Colin Ellar, Jason Ellar,Brad Fisher, Pamela Fisher, Ajmer Grewal, Darshan Grewal, Sachin Gupta, Matthew Harmer, Sam Hearn, Gillian Hutchison, Paul Jabbal, Gurmail Lal, Paul Lynch, Liz Mammatt, Amrit Mann, Ed Mayne, Gerald McGregor, Sheila O'Reilly, Robert Oulds, Shantanu Rajawat, Sohan Sangha, Jagdish Sharma, Balvir Sond, Rebecca Stewart, Peter Thompson, John Todd and Beverley Williams

Guests: Maria Pedro, the Deputy Lieutenant Peter Reed MBE Alan Watkinson

Opening of the Meeting

The Mayor welcomed those present to the meeting including Ms Maria Pedro, the Deputy Lieutenant, Mr Peter Reed, the Olympic rower, and Mr Alan Watkinson, who was representing Mr Mo Farah, the Olympic long distance runner, and their friends and associates who were in attendance. The Mayor then also welcomed Ms Seema Malhotra and Ms Mary McLeod, the Borough’s Members of Parliament, Councillors Jagdish Sharma and Peter Thompson, the leaders of the two political groups represented on the Council, fellow councillors, the Chief Executive and officers of the Council and members of the public and invited attendees.

Apologies for Absence

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Felicity Barwood, Rajinder Bath, Tom Bruce, Peter Carey, Melvin Collins, John Cooper, Linda Davies, Samantha Davies, Theo Dennison, Mohinder Gill, Barbara Harris, David Hughes, Elizabeth Hughes, Kamaljit Kaur, Adrian Lee, Andrew Morgan-Watts, Barbara Reid, Sue Sampson, Corinna Smart, Peta Vaught and Allan Wilson.

There were no other apologies.

Mayoral Introduction

The Mayor introduced the meeting and made the following speech:

“It may not have escaped your attention that we only have one item for consideration this evening - but what an exciting item it is. Making someone an honorary Freeman of the Borough of Hounslow is not something which happens every day, or, in fact, every year. This evening will be the first time the Borough has created an honorary Freeman since 2009.

It is the highest honour we can bestow on a citizen, and is given in recognition of the high esteem in which that citizen is held by the council, and indeed the citizens of the Borough, and also for achievements of great merit. And I am sure that you will agree with me that the circumstances surrounding the achievements of the two gentlemen who have been nominated to receive the honour this evening are most noteworthy.

Of course, to describe 2012 as a most noteworthy year for London, and indeed for Hounslow, would be to do it a great disservice. More accurate, perhaps, to describe it as one of the most noteworthy years in the history of our great city. The 2012 Games will never be forgotten by anyone who was fortunate enough to see the spectacle, at the venues or at home. And the achievements of Team GB’s Olympians and Para-Olympians gave our Borough, our city, and our country cause for celebration on a scale not seen for decades.

This evening, then, it is fitting that to bring this remarkable year of 2012 to a close in the London Borough of Hounslow, we are marking and celebrating the achievements of two of our Olympians.

Peter Reed and Mo Farah were among the hundreds of Members of Team GB who brought our Borough and our nation to its feet this summer, waving, cheering, and even shedding a tear or two, with their incredible exploits. We will hear more about both athletes later in speeches from my councillor colleagues. And one of the reasons their exploits are so important is the Olympic legacy. Tonight we are joined by young people who are our Olympic legacy in Hounslow – rowers, athletes, tennis players – all potential stars of the future, all inspired by London 2012.”

Honorary Freeman Of The Borough - Mr Peter Reed

The Mayor then moved onto the first substantive item on the agenda, which was the conferring of the Freedom of the Borough on Mr Peter Reed. He invited Councillor Jagdish Sharma, the Leader of the Council, to propose and introduce the motion.

Councillor Jagdish Sharma made the following speech:

“I am delighted to be able to propose Pete Reed as an Honorary Freeman of the London Borough of Hounslow. Pete is without doubt one of the most naturally gifted oarsmen of his generation. Well, that is what it says on his website, so it must be true.

Born in Seattle, in the USA, and raised in the Cotswolds, he showed Olympic determination and focus from an early age. Despite trying many sports at school including rugby, cycling and basketball, Pete didn't find any that he truly excelled at. But then, his life changed.

He won a coveted place on an Officer training scholarship at the Britannia Royal Naval College in Dartmouth in 1999 – one of only three state comprehensive school students to be chosen from thousands of applicants. And it was during his military fitness training, he started using the rowing machine for the first time and discovered his aptitude for rowing.

After completing officer training and with military support, he studied mechanical engineering at the University of the West of in Bristol. Taking up rowing in his second year, he quickly progressed from the novice crew to Club President. He raced into the British under-23 team after two years and then into the University of Oxford crew, gaining two Blues. In 2005, Pete won the GB Rowing Team’s senior final selection trials, a title that he has defended every year since. After gaining selection into the Senior Men’s top crew, the coxless four, Pete won his first World Championship gold before finishing his fourth year of rowing.

With two world titles secured, a new look 2008 Olympic coxless four was formed. Despite massive setbacks throughout the season, the crew took the Olympic title in one of the most dramatic climaxes in any race at the Games, racing down Australia in the last ten strokes. A new coxless fours team was formed for the 2012 Olympic year. The crew achieved the world’s best time at their second regatta and had its eyes on gold in London this year. Nothing else mattered.

But the path to Olympic glory is not always easy - After a defeat in the last rowing World Cup before the 2012 games, the British crew went away for the five final weeks to scrutinise their training and turn the result around. The story of the 2012 Olympiad has a fairy tale ending when everything came together at 11:30am on the 4th August, in the final.”

Councillor Sharma then concluded his speech by showing a short extract of the coverage of the race in which Mr Reed won his gold medal and invited those present to cheer along with it.

Those present then watched the race coverage.

The Mayor thanked Councillor Sharma and then invited Councillor Peter Thompson, the Leader of the Opposition, to second the motion.

Councillor Peter Thompson made the following speech:

“Mr Mayor, I am delighted to be able to second this nomination. As a Chiswick Councillor who is lucky enough to live a few streets away from the Thames I am see almost daily athletes training on the river at the crack of dawn and whatever the weather - in their quest to excel whether individually or as part of a team. Our Borough is indeed blessed with one of the most famous stretches of riverside in the land, if not the world. That fame, of course, comes from the closing stages of the Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race. Knowing his loyalties, I won’t remind Pete who won this year.

But it’s not just those of us who live by the river that felt a special pride with Pete’s achievements. The appearance of that marvellous golden post box in Heathfield Terrace by Chiswick town hall has brought home to wider community that we indeed have an Olympic gold-medallist in our midst. Having lived and trained in Chiswick, he became a part of our community, and that will always be so wherever in the world sport and life takes him. It is good this evening to have so many young people with us. Many of them are rowers (hands up!) and will have been thrilled and inspired by Pete’s exploits at this Olympics, and indeed at Beijing in 2008.

They are our true Olympic legacy and all residents, Members and officers can be proud of what this Council and its partners are putting into the sport of rowing in Hounslow. Nine secondary schools in the Borough out of 14 are currently involved in the free rowing coaching, provided by London Youth Rowing. Over 150 students have had regular coaching on the water in Chiswick. Wouldn’t it be a wonderful legacy if thanks to such efforts, our Borough, and it’s riverside, came to be associated not just with rowing but producing young talent which could follow in the footsteps of oarsmen like Pete Reed? His story and his success can only serve to grow and inspire our young people. Perhaps this evening will contribute to that.

The fact that it was relatively late in his sporting career that he first discovered his ability and incredible talent for rowing makes his achievements all the more remarkable and indeed, demonstrates that you really do never know where life will take you.

One final comment, Mr Mayor – I understand that sitting next door, just beyond these dividing walls, are a pair of rowing machines. Just in case any of our young rowers here tonight fancied their chances taking on an Olympic oarsman in a rowing challenge, a word of advice. Pete has, according to the internet so it must be true, the largest lung capacity ever recorded: 11.68 litres. To put that in some perspective, the male UK average is just under six. I hate to think what mine is!

Recently I was reading – of all things Men’s Health Magazine. Pete’s daily workout regime is a magnificent thing to behold. Indeed I was shattered simply reading the routine of training that Pete and athletes like him put themselves through. London 2012 was a celebration of all that is good, beautiful, uniting and gladdening and it is truly fitting that we honour one of our own and say thank you.”

The Mayor then thanked Councillor Thompson and advised that six councillors had expressed their wish to speak in support of the motion and so he invited them to speak in turn.

Councillor Ruth Cadbury welcomed Mr Reed to the Lampton Park Conference Centre and explained that she had been the Cabinet Lead Member for the Olympic and Para- and like everyone else in the country, she had watched it on television and enjoyed the most amazing summer for London, which touched everyone. Although Hounslow did not have any sporting venues which were used, it was closely involved in supporting the logistics and legacy of the Games and gave the example of the Olympic Torch Relay coming to the Borough as a good example - with 60000 estimated as being on the streets that day to see it. She also explained that, as the main road into London from Heathrow Airport came through Hounslow, there were lots of less obvious arrangements required to support the Games, with all of which the Borough was involved. She was proud too of the legacy of the Games and how sports such as tennis, rowing and athletics had seen increased participation as a result of people both young and old being inspired to take up sport. She was delighted that local people and groups such as London Young Rowing and Team Hounslow, an athletics group based at the Osterley athletics track, were keen to represent the country in future Olympic and Para-Olympic Games. She concluded by stating that Peter Reed’s own achievements in rowing were a true inspiration to a generation.

Councillor Gerald McGregor considered rowing to be a sport of both spectacle and beauty and one that had its own poetry. He found it magnificent to see. He considered himself lucky to have been able to see the Olympic rowing at Eton Dornay during the summer, and observe so much of interest, including the power and dedication of the sportsmen and women, and the intensity of their concentration and physical prowess: he considered them all to be titans. He felt proud that the Borough could boast being the home to a double Olympian in Peter Reed, who lived in Chiswick and who had won gold medals in both the 2008 and 2012 Olympic Games. He declared that people felt the better for watching his dedication and success and he thanked him and his fellow crew Members for their achievements. He concluded by expressing his delight in supporting the motion to make him a freeman of the Borough.

Councillor Ed Mayne congratulated Peter Reed on his success as a double Olympic gold medal winner. He marvelled at Mr Reed’s achievements in winning a world championship gold within four years to taking up rowing and then going on to win further gold medals in two successive Olympic Games, making him a Member of a very elite club of premier sportspeople. However, he also noted Mr Reed’s own generous acknowledgement of his team coach, Jergen Rogler, and fellow crew Members. Councillor Mayne considered rowing to be the ultimate team sport requiring rhythm and togetherness to achieve success. He considered it fitting that Mr Reed had lived in Chiswick which had a proud and lengthy rowing tradition of its own, and like much of the Borough had numerous river based rowing clubs based there. He considered that his success would inspire countless rowers, both experienced and new to the sport, and he was delighted that people were taking it up, which was a direct result of Mr Reed’s success and the huge success of the Olympic and Para- Olympic Games overall.

Councillor Liz Mammatt stated that the Borough was proud of Lieutenant Peter Reed MBE, who was a resident of Chiswick and a great role model who had, with quiet determination, hard work and team spirit, gone onto such success in his chosen sport. She had been surprised to learn that in his youth, he had not been particularly good at sport until he had found rowing for which he had a marked aptitude. She expressed admiration for his determination to do well which culminated in his first gold Olympic medal at the Beijing Olympics in 2008 for which he was also awarded an MBE. She congratulated him on his continued success and thanked him for being a role model for people of all age groups by showing that hard work, focus and personal sacrifice could lead to great success. She also thanked him for his regular kind words about Chiswick when interviewed and she concluded by wishing him luck for the 2016 Olympic Games to be held in Brazil.

Councillor Jason Ellar explained that he was both a councillor and a student and confessed to being a “closet rowing fanatic”. He said that he looked up to Peter Reed as an inspiration for his own “dabblings” in the sport. He also joked that he also physically looked up to him, as Mr Reed was a remarkably tall and powerful man. However, he observed that it needed more than power to be a successful rower and that Mr Reed had also demonstrated passion and discipline for his sport. He considered him a model citizen of the Borough, and that the aspect of being a role model for others was not recognised enough by the media. He considered that Mr Reed was special not just for his sporting feats but for who he was as a person, and illustrated this by reminding people of the little reported fact that he had assisted an exhausted Australian rower out of his boat when he was unable to do so himself. Similarly, he had been gentlemanly and intelligent when responding to media questions. He declared him to be a great athlete, a great gentleman and a great role model and concluded by regretting that the media did not concentrate more on people like him rather than on footballers.

Councillor Paul Lynch expressed delight that in addition to being a cause for pride, Mr Reed and Mr Farah had also helped to illustrate the reservoir of sporting talent in the Borough, and that this increased awareness of local young talent would be a fitting legacy for the Olympic and Para-Olympic Games. As part of this, he listed the involvement of Chiswick in sport as the finish of the annual University Boat Race and as home to many excellent rowing clubs including those from the University of London, where he once rowed competitively, Ibis, University of Westminster, Tideway Scullers, Thames Tradesmen and Emmanuel. He the told the story of Fred Smallbone, a rower with the Thames Tradesmen’s Rowing Club, who coached the University of West of England rowers where Peter Reed was first spotted as a natural rowing talent. As a result, both were frequent visitors to Chiswick Boathouse. Mr Smallbone had contributed to Mr Reed’s progression to Oxford and to the National Squad. He concluded by stating that not only was he (Cllr Lynch) a ward councillor for aptly named Chiswick Riverside ward, he also chaired the organisation, Thames Strategy Kew to Chelsea (TSKC) which campaigned for the riverside environment and better use of and access to the river and he stated that he intended to invite Mr Reed to plant a tree as a long lasting mark of his achievements.

Each of these speeches was met at its conclusion with a warm round of applause.

The Mayor thanked all the speakers for their positive comments. He then sought a vote on the recommendation in the report in the agenda and it was unanimously

RESOLVED –

That, in pursuance of the provisions of Section 249 of the Local Government Act 1972,the Council do hereby admit Mr Peter Reed MBE to be an Honorary Freeman of the Borough in recognition of his sporting achievements and his services to this Borough and country.

The Mayor then invited Peter Reed to speak in response.

In doing so, Mr Reed stated that he was overwhelmed by the speeches that he had made and marvelled at the knowledge of his life which had been illustrated. He considered it an honour to be at the meeting and to receive the freedom of the Borough. He thanked all councillors for the honour which he truly appreciated. He joked that in addition to inflating his ego, the honour meant he would never again have to pay council tax, use money in local shops or worry about parking tickets. He then confirmed that whilst he had been making up his fictional list of things that the freedom gave him, he had also been genuinely pleased and had enjoyed a real sense of satisfaction to have been recognised by the London Borough of Hounslow, a place to which he felt close as his home. He then stated that his success in the 2008 and 2012 Olympic Games was more than he had ever dreamt of. He recalled looked at commemorative blue plaques on houses as a child and now felt proud that he had been honoured with a gold post box, a commemorative tree and now the freedom of the Borough; he considered these kind honours as his own personal blue plaque.

Mr Reed then produced his two gold Olympic medals and showed them to those present, and added that whilst he appreciated the significance of both medals equally, 2012 had undoubtedly been the best year of his life. He explained that the support from the public who had attended the events had been stupendous and had made it special for every participant but particularly for British sportsmen and women, and that consequently he had millions of people to thank: it was the public who had made the 2012 Olympic and Para-Olympic Games what they were and he was endebted to them.

He went on to encourage young people to take up rowing and said that they were the future of the sport. He explained that the sport was open to all, and not just to richer people. He added that he had taken up the sport relatively late in his youth and so many of the young people in the audience would be ahead of where he was if they were to start rowing now.

He concluded by mentioning his wife, who was a coach who had supported him throughout the summer and equally made sacrifices for him. He declared her “brilliant”. He also thanked the Council for its kindness, the police, the military and all the volunteers who had helped both him and the success of the Olympic and Para-Olympic Games.

Members of the Council showed their appreciation of Mr Reed’s comments with a warm round of applause.

The Mayor then presented Mr Reed with an illuminated parchment formally certifying the conferral of the freedom of the Borough upon him.

Honorary Freeman Of The Borough - Mr Mo Farah

The Mayor then moved onto the second substantive item on the agenda, which was the conferring of the Freedom of the Borough on Mr Mo Farah. He explained that sadly Mr Farah was unable to be in attendance at the meeting due to his training commitments in America, but that the Council was delighted to welcome instead as his nominated representative, his old physical education teacher and close friend, Mr Alan Watkinson. He then invited Councillor Jagdish Sharma, the Leader of the Council, to propose and introduce the motion.

Councillor Jagdish Sharma made the following speech:

“I am delighted to be able to propose Mo Farah as an Honorary Freeman of the London Borough of Hounslow. Mo Farah’s story is one which has, and will, inspire thousands of young people in this Borough and across the world. It is also a story which shows Hounslow in its best light – as a place which welcomes the displaced and those fleeing from war or poverty, and as a place where talent can be spotted, nurtured and thrive.

Mo was born in , , but as the country suffered in a civil war, his family eventually headed to Europe, the UK, and Feltham. On his first day at secondary school, PE teacher Alan Watkinson taught his class and formed the impression that the young Mr Farah could present a few challenges as he found an identity for himself. But it was during football matches that Mr Watkinson spotted something special in his style and decided to encourage the talent. He told Mo that he could run for Great Britain one day, and at his new school in , set about nurturing his talent.

Mo won the English Schools Cross Country title at his second attempt, for which he earned a football kit from Mr Watkinson. Running became the single most important thing for Mo, helping his language, social skills and providing role models. His social life began to revolve around the sport and soon fellow athletes were picking up on his burgeoning talent, with offering to help with funding towards his training and even paying for his driving lessons.

Mo is already the greatest British endurance athlete of all time. He is a three-time European champion and reigning 5000m world champion – he just missed out on a long distance double at the 2011 world championships, instead claiming silver in the 10,000m. His career since moving to the USA, where he is coached by distance running legend in Portland, Oregon. He returned there to begin training for next season earlier this week, which means, sadly, he cannot be with us tonight.

I hardly need outline his exploits at the 2012 Olympic Games in London, Farah won gold in both the 5,000m and 10,000m. We’ll see the unforgettable footage in just a moment.

Finally, Mr Mayor, a brief word about why the residents of Hounslow can and should be so proud of Mo Farah. Our Borough is proud of its diversity and its welcoming nature. It is proud that a refugee from Somalia can make Hounslow home, and become the best our nation has ever seen in his events, not to mention one of the greatest the world has ever seen. It is proud that a teacher in one of our schools was the person who spotted that talent, and is here tonight to help us celebrate the remarkable athlete that is Mo Farah.”

Councillor Sharma then concluded his speech by showing short extracts of the coverage of the two races in which Mr Farah won his gold medals and invited those present to express their support as they watched.

Those present then watched the coverage of the races.

The Mayor thanked Councillor Sharma and then invited Councillor Peter Thompson, the Leader of the Opposition, to second the motion.

Councillor Peter Thompson made the following speech:

“Mr Mayor, I am delighted to be able to second Mo Farah for this honour. As a talent which was nurtured in our Borough, it is good to see so many young athletes here tonight, who could only have been inspired by Mo and his incredible achievements. Those young athletes are from Team Hounslow, and there can be no better illustration of the Olympic legacy which we would want to create in the Borough than what is happening at that club. In September, just after Mo Farah’s Olympic triumphs, saw the club grow beyond what I suspect may have been its coaches wildest dreams, with Monday night training sessions at Osterley during September seeing over 80 young people attending. There are plans to improve the track with the installation of floodlighting which will help secure a thriving sporting legacy. This, remember, is an athletics club which didn’t exist a year ago. I understand their new club kit which they are proudly wearing tonight arrived this week and I am sure it would not be long before we see the young people wearing Team Hounslow colours receiving medals for their achievements just as the young Mo once did.

But there is more to Mo Farah than simply athletics. He is not a person, despite living and training so far from home, who has forgotten his roots, here in Hounslow or in Somalia. In September last year, he made a trip back to his homeland of Somalia to see the devastation caused by Eastern Africa's worst drought in 60 years. Shocked by the conditions he saw and the knowledge that access to clean water, food and clothing was scarce, he and wife Tania launched the Mo Farah Foundation to help raise money and provide long-term solutions for the people in Somalia.

To conclude, Mr Mayor, it has been a remarkable year for Mo Farah. But I couldn’t conclude this speech without recognising that it has also been a remarkable year for his family. His Olympic double was matched by a more person double with the arrival of twin daughters. Perhaps success at the BBC Sports Personality of the Year awards on Sunday would have been a fitting finale, but despite phones being on speed-dial across the Borough, it was not to be. So to conclude Mr Mayor, no matter what your sport, or indeed if you have none, it is hard not to be inspired by Mo Farah’s story. It is a fitting tribute to his achievements that he is admitted as a Freeman of the Borough.”

The Mayor then thanked Councillor Thompson and advised that six councillors had expressed their wish to speak in support of the motion and so he invited them to speak in turn.

Councillor Colin Ellar recalled that the Olympic and Para-Olympic Games started for him in 2004, when Hounslow and other West London councils had not yet met the then Olympic Bid body but were concerned about the level of support required in holding the events in London. However, after meeting representatives of the body, the Council along with its neighbouring boroughs had been pleased to support the bid which, to the delight of everybody, had been successful. He then expressed how lucky Hounslow was that Mo Farah had settled in the Borough when he and his family had arrived in Britain as a refugee. He thanked Alan Wilkinson, his athletics club in Feltham and his schools in the Borough for helping him and introducing him to athletics. He then noted that the Borough had the best six lane athletics track in West London and he explained how cross party support in the Council over the years had helped to save it for the Borough and its residents; this track was shortly to be renamed after Mo Farah as a tribute to the athlete who had spent so many of his formative years in Hounslow. He considered Mr Farah to be a Member of the Hounslow family, so well known had he rightfully become. He then went on to recall how he had once met the famous Czech athlete, Emil Zátopek, who had been the first person ever to win the gold Olympic medals for both the and 10000 metres races at the 1952 Olympic Games: Sixty years later, Mo Farah was only the sixth man in history to do it which made him an exceedingly special athlete. He concluded by stating that on top of his undoubted sporting achievement, Mo Farah was also a nice man and he expressed delight in being able to support the motion to confer the freedom of the Borough upon him. He then thanked Alan Wilkinson and the Borough’s schools for helping him achieve his amazing success.

Councillor Gillian Hutchison thanked Mo Farah for figuratively putting Feltham on the map, and for reminding people that the area was so much more than the location for a young offenders unit. She expressed delight at the genuine buzz of excitement experienced by pupils at Mo Farah’s old school in the Borough when he came back to visit and she explained how her own son had been proud to be a Feltham Community College pupil and to meet Mr Farah, a meeting also shown on television. She declared Mo Farah to be an inspiration to the youth of the Borough and in particular Feltham and he had shown how with dedication and hard work it was possible to achieve your goals. She said that the people of Feltham saluted him and his achievements and would always remember the area as the place where he had started his world beating career.

Councillor Ajmer Grewal declared the evening to be exceptional and stated how the Council and the Borough’s residents were proud of both Peter Reed and Mo Farah for their amazing achievements; it was right to honour both men with the freedom of the Borough. She realised that Alan Wilkinson, who had first spotted Mr Farah’s aptitude for athletics, must be proud to see his former pupil, and his current friend, go on to such international success in his sporting field, culminating in the summer with two gold medals at the 2012 Olympic Games. She added that she hoped that Mo Farah’s story would be an inspiration to young people to get involved in sport and physical activity, and she was pleased to report that there was some evidence of increased take up in sport in the last six months; she hoped that Hounslow would become a sportier and healthier Borough as a result of the Games and the inspiring success of sportspeople like Mr Farah, and she hoped that in future it would become the home of even more gold medals. She noted that in addition to his natural talent, Mo Farah had demonstrated hard work, dedication and commitment – and he had rightly found success and also fame: she noted that Mr Farah had stated that he was now known to everyone and that everywhere he went, people would greet him by “doing the Mobot”, his signature action on winning a race. She concluded by stating that both Peter Reed and Mo Farah had made the Borough proud and she hoped that in conferring the honour of the freedom of the Borough on them, the Council had made them proud.

Councillor Liz Mammatt stated that the Borough was delighted to be the home of successful sportsmen and women and also coaches, all of whom were role models. She was delighted how Mo Farah had gone on to achieve greatness by heeding advice and guidance from someone like Alan Wilkinson, which had helped him triumph against adversity, to a world beating degree. She praised Mr Wilkinson, and people like him, who nurtured people with talent. She also expressed delight at the capacity for sport to bring people together and confessed that whilst she had previously not much watched athletics, she had been genuinely excited by the coverage of the Olympic and Para-Olympic Games and easily understood how sportsmen and women like Mr Farah could be a real inspiration to people of all ages. She expressed delight at how Mr Farah remained unchanged by his success and continued to be a kind and polite man and willing to support the community; he intended to build an orphanage and a sports academy in order to help others. In addition, he had visited schools in the Borough and helped show young people a successful path that many would follow and she concluded by wishing him luck for the 2016 Olympic Games to be held in Brazil.

Councillor Steve Curran stated that the unsung heroes of the Olympic and Para-Olympic Games were teachers like Mr Wilkinson who gave up their spare time to support pupils in extracurricular activities like athletics clubs. It was people like this who gave such good service to young people and the wider community. He suggested that involvement in sport gave many rewards including lifelong friendships. He looked at the young people in the audience and across the Borough and encouraged them to take up sport which would give them fun and enjoyment and friends, which were more important than medal success. He also commended involvement in sport for helping to teach people both to win and to lose, which were vital life lessons and stated that the important element of sport was the taking part. He thanked Mo Farah, Peter Reed and all the Olympians and Para-Olympians for their good example and for showing what a country Britain was and providing an incentive to all young people to become involved in sport which would give them benefits, enjoyment and happiness for their whole lives.

Councillor Gerald McGregor started by asking the Mayor, and all those sitting at the top table (which, in addition to the Mayor, comprised Councillors Bains, Sharma and Thompson, Mary Harpley, Maria Pedro, Alan Wilkinson and Peter Reed) to perform the Mobot action. Having done so (to great acclaim from the audience), he declared it to be a positive message for Mo Farah from the Council. He then expressed admiration for Mo Farah and his fellow athletes for their stamina, determination and energy in running long distance races such as the 5000 metres and 10000 metres, not just in finals but also in heats. He then expressed delight that Mr Wilkinson was present to be able to pass onto Mr Farah and his family the comments and good wishes of the Borough. He commended Mr Farah for his good example and behaviour towards others both during the Games and after when he had proven himself to be a generous and thoughtful man in interviews and other media coverage. He concluded by recalling the excitement and joy that he (Cllr McGregor) had experienced with friends and family in watching his races, and declaring Mo Farah to be a worthy and honourable recipient of the freedom of the Borough.

Each of these speeches was met at its conclusion with a warm round of applause.

The Mayor thanked all the speakers for their positive comments. He then sought a vote on the recommendation in the report in the agenda and it was unanimously

RESOLVED –

That, in pursuance of the provisions of Section 249 of the Local Government Act 1972,the Council do hereby admit Mr Mo Farah to be an Honorary Freeman of the Borough in recognition of his sporting achievements and his services to this Borough and country.

The Mayor then invited Mr Alan Wilkinson to speak in response on behalf of Mr Farah. In doing so, Mr Wilkinson expressed his own pleasure at being that the meeting. He recalled how Mo Farah had come to the Feltham Community College as a boy in 1994 and how one of his earliest memories of him illustrated the initial challenging behaviour of the school boy as he had been cheekily hanging from a goalpost rather than playing football. However, his love of sport and his aptitude for running had given him a route out of his problems and his difficult past. He then told a story of how on one occasion early on at the school, Mr Farah and some school friends had absconded from a forty minute road run to go carol singing, and had returned giggling. However, Mr Wilkinson stated that once Mo Farah had decided to concentrate on athletics, he was diligent, dedicated and motivated in his training and showed a great work ethic; in doing so, he had developed into a great role model for all in Britain. Mr Wilkinson considered himself blessed to have been part of Mo Farah’s development.

Mr Wilkinson then advised that Mr Farah had asked him to give the following speech, which he then read out:

“I am very sorry that I cannot be there this evening. As this message is read out, I will be sitting on a plane travelling back to Portland to continue with my training. I always leave London, and particularly Hounslow, with a heavy heart though, as I have such happy memories from there.

Hounslow is where I grew up when I came to England and everything that I have achieved since is due in no small way to the opportunities that I had. For that I shall always be grateful.

The Borough of Hounslow Athletic Club was my first athletics club where I began my athletics journey and I attended Feltham Community College where I learnt the skills I have needed every day since. It is also where I met the girl who is now my wife.

Finally, through either luck or fate, I met Alan Wilkinson who has had such a large impact on my life. Without all of these events, places and people I would not have become the man/athlete that I am today.

I am very honoured to receive this award and it is a lovely way for me to cap off what has been a brilliant year.

I hope you all enjoy your evening and that you for your continued support.”

Mr Wilkinson then concluded by recognising the strong support given by the London Borough of Hounslow, through its Council and schools, to children and young people in encouraging them to engage with sport. He was delighted that this would help support the legacy of the Olympic and Para-Olympic Games. He thanked local groups, local coaches and those who were involved and had helped to create new clubs such as Team Hounslow and finally the Council for conferring the honour of the freedom of the Borough on Mo Farah.

Members of the Council showed their appreciation of Mr Wilkinson’s comments with a warm round of applause.

The Mayor then presented Mr Wilkinson with an illuminated parchment formally certifying the conferral of the freedom of the Borough upon Mr Farah.

Conclusion of the Meeting

The Mayor then thanked Mr Peter Reed, Mr Mo Farah and Mr Alan Watkinson and all those present and concluded the meeting.

The meeting ended at 6.30pm

Mayor