A LONG-SERVING town and district councillor who has served his community for almost 30 years has been made an Honorary Freeman of Newton Aycliffe.

Labour's Bob Fleming, leader of Great Aycliffe Town Council, is only the third person to receive the rare accolade, which recognises long service and outstanding achievement.

Last night (Wednesday, January 21), fellow councillors unanimously backed the nomination by Cllr Arun Chandran who described him as a “true leader.”

“He is approachable, sincere, truthful, fearless, prudent, dignified, broad-minded, moderate and magnanimous,” said Cllr Chandran.

“He has a good sense of humour and is slow to chide but swift to praise.

“Bob never ever talks down to anyone, yet despite all of these qualities, and all the responsibilities he has and does shoulder, he has that rare but most essential human quality of a true leader, humility.”

Cllr Fleming was elected on to Great Aycliffe Town Council in 1987 and has served seven unbroken terms.

At the end of this term in 2017 he will have served 30 years.

He is also a former leader of Sedgefield Borough Council and was a long-serving governor at five Newton Aycliffe schools.

A teacher by profession, the grandfather-of-six was headteacher at Browney School for 21 years and rose to the rank of lieutenant colonel with the Territorial Army.

His many achievements included: overseeing the purchase of West Cemetery; developing Oak Leaf Complex from a nine to 18-hole course; protecting green spaces and enhancing parks; increasing council reserves and assets; securing £2.3m of Local Improvement Funding; establishing Early Learning Centres; and lobbying for the town’s £2m Pioneering Care Centre.

Cllr Fleming said it was a great honour and praised the “many wonderful people” he had met and worked with over the years, including his beloved late wife, Angela.

When asked to choose his proudest achievement, Cllr Fleming said: “I remember around Easter time a lady arrived at my door with her three children.

“All they had was what they were standing in. My wife and I found them a house, some food and help them get back on their feet..

“When I see that lady and her three grown-up children on the town now it means a great deal.”