Latest news with #HarryAtkinson
BBC News
6 hours ago
- Politics
- BBC News
Erewash Mayor might be the youngest in the country
"I always get two comments, 'Aren't you a little bit young to be the mayor?' or 'Are you the mayor's son?'"At 25-years-old, Councillor Harry Atkinson is Erewash's youngest ever mayor, and might even be the youngest in the spending a year as deputy mayor to Councillor Kate Kennelly, Harry was handed the chain of office at Long Eaton Town Hall on Thursday 15 does not see his age as a "big deal" but hopes it helps younger people in his constituency feel represented. "We're quite lucky at Erewash, we've got a few young councillors and I think that's really important," he said."That your elected representatives are a broad representation of who's in your community."We should absolutely have people from the age of 18 all the way up to 180 and with different experiences and backgrounds."Harry grew up in Long Eaton and works as an engineer at Ratcliffe-on-Soar power station where he started as an apprentice and is now working to help decommission the a scout leader, he raised £27,000 for his local group to install solar panels and battery storage and says when he is not involved in local politics he enjoys hill walking and restoring his friends Reliant Robin. Harry, who was elected Labour councillor for Sawley in 2023, jokes that the best part of his new role is wearing his civic regalia."But on a serious note, it's the visiting people, I didn't quite realise the vast nature of organisations that are out there."There is so many good people giving up their time and learning about those people has been really nice." He civic role has seen him tackle various public appearances from wielding a sledgehammer at the demolition of a disused cinema, to opening a duck race."I enjoy everything I go to, I really do, you only get one shot at this so I want to put as much enthusiasm and effort in as I can."
BBC News
6 days ago
- General
- BBC News
UK's oldest WW2 veteran awarded Freedom of Erewash
The UK's oldest surviving World War Two veteran has been awarded the Freedom of Rose, who is also the UK's oldest man aged 110, was honoured by Erewash's youngest ever mayor, 25-year-old Harry Atkinson, at a ceremony at his care home in Ilkeston, said it was a "privilege" to present the award to the the award, Mr Rose said it was "great" and "very nice to see all the people" at the small event. "I want to say thank you very much for coming to see me," he said."I didn't do anything that anybody else wouldn't have done." His son, David Rose, said he was proud of his dad, adding: "Bearing in mind what he's been through, it's quite something, and he's still here to tell the tale."You start telling [his] story and you get a lump in your throat. All I can say is I'm extremely proud of the man."Thank you to the council, greatly appreciated, and he deserves also praised the work of the British Legion for supporting veterans like his father. Paul Scott, John Sewell and Paul Jarvis from the Ilkeston and Long Eaton branches of the Legion attended the Atkinson said veterans like Donald "need recognising". "We've had a generation of people that served in WW2," he said. "Some gave the ultimate sacrifice. "This is in recognition of not just Donald but to them as well. They allowed us the freedoms that we have today."If anything, it's a shame that it's taken us this long. 110 is a bit too long I think!" The leader of the council James Dawson said it was a unanimous decision of the authority to award Donald the freedom of the borough."It's the highest honour that any local authority can bestow," he said."It is in recognition of Donald and his service, but also [a] special things in this 80th year of VE day and VJ day."People who took part, people like Donald, we have to treasure the time we have with them."Mr Rose was born in Westcott in Surrey on 24 December joined the Queen's Royal Regiment at the age of 25 and went on to train as a served in North Africa and Europe and puts his longevity down to salty water he had to drink during his time as a Desert Rose, who turned 110 last December, enjoyed a wartime-themed party at the care home where he lives in Ilkeston, Derbyshire, for VE day anniversary celebrations earlier this month.
