Nelson veterans of the Second World War have been honoured by Nelson Town Council.
They have been awarded the Freedom of Nelson.
So far, the council has identified 21 Nelsoners who served in the war, including the Land Army as well as the Armed Forces. Sadly, two of the people included have since died.
On Saturday, the town council granted the Freedom of Nelson to 13 of these brave men and women at a ceremony at the ACE Centre.
They were presented with their Freedom Scrolls.
The veterans and their families were entertained by singer Maria Manchester performing wsongs from the wartime era.
The scrolls were presented by town council chairman Coun. Susan Hunt, assisted by Coun. Mike Landriau, who had arranged the event, assisted by Coun. Eileen Ansar.
The 13 recipients of the awards who received their scrolls were: Mrs Jean Atkinson (89), Land Army; Mr Norman Galloway (86), Fleet Air Arm; Mr Roy Hardacre (92) Royal Air Force; Mr James Hartley (92), Royal Artillery; Mr Gulam Hussain (85), Indian Army, Mr Tom Lees (93), Army; Mr Alan Mason (88), Royal Navy; Mr Abraham Rothwell (90) Royal Navy; Mr Robert Savage (92), Royal Air Force; Mr Frank Sherwood (88), Royal Air Force, Mr Norman Smith (89), Fleet Air Arm; Mrs Edna Whittaker (89), Women’s Royal Air Force; and Mr Ted Wright (89), Army.
Nelson’s Town Clerk, Mr Martin Harrison, said: “Mrs J. Maden and Messrs A. Ashton, F. Fawcett, W. Lawrence, L. Mattison and K. Wright were unable to attend the ceremony, and their scrolls will be presented to them in their homes at a later date.
“Sadly, two veterans – Messrs E. Wright and R. Jackson – passed away while the event was being organised and their scrolls will be presented to their families in due course.”