Freeman honour for Paralympic gold medallist

A commando turned Paralympian has said it is "pretty incredible" he is to become a freeman of his village in honour of his medal success.

Gregg Stevenson and his partner Lauren Rowles, from Worcestershire, claimed gold in the mixed double sculls at the 2024 Paralympics in Paris earlier this month.

Stevenson, from Foulridge in east Lancashire, lost both his legs in an explosion while serving as a Royal Engineer Commando in Afghanistan 15 years ago.

There will also be an annual scholar prize in his honour at St Michael and All Angels Primary School and a play area is to be named after him, Pendle Council said.

Stevenson said it's been "an incredible whirlwind" since the Paralympics and being made a freeman is "an honour".

"I think it means I can graze sheep on the village green, so that's quite exciting," he said.

Making someone an honorary freeman or freewoman is the highest award a council can give to one of its citizens.

Alma Avenue play area will be renamed the Gregg Stevenson play area with a Paralympic plaque detailing his achievement, Pendle Council said.

Councillor Asjad Mahmood, leader of the authority, said the honours were "so well deserved".

“To have a Paralympic gold medal winner in Pendle is amazing and should be rightly celebrated."

Pendle Borough Council’s armed forces champion, Foulridge councillor and chair of Foulridge Parish Council, Kevin Salter, said: "As soon as we heard of Gregg winning a gold medal, fellow parish councillors and villagers all wanted to do something to mark his outstanding achievement."

"We wanted to find a fitting tribute for Gregg, and I feel we have achieved that by making him a freeman of Foulridge, where he currently lives."

He said: "Gregg has come a long way since being injured while serving in the Army.

"Despite initial struggles, he worked hard to regain his fitness and pursued opportunities to learn new sports.

“He became interested in rowing after trying out for the Invictus Games in 2018 and since then has gone on to achieve many sporting accomplishments, culminating in his Paralympics gold medal, showing his sheer determination which makes him such a role model for future generations."

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