A couple who have dedicated many years to serving communities across Staffordshire have made history by being jointly awarded Stafford Borough Council's highest honour.

Sir Ian and Lady Jane Dudson were presented with the Freedom of the Borough – an honour previously bestowed on wartime Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill and Olympic gold medal winner Joe Clarke – on Tuesday (8 September) in recognition of their service to local communities, organisations and charities.

Sir Ian has been a Deputy Lieutenant of Staffordshire, High Sheriff of Staffordshire and from 2012 to 2025 was Lord Lieutenant of Staffordshire.

Lady Jane also promoted Staffordshire communities, accompanying Sir Ian on his official business.

Stafford Borough Council leader Aidan Godfrey said: "Stafford Borough Council's highest honour is the giving of the Freedom of the Borough to an individual or an organisation.

"It's an event that doesn't often happen – and even rarer is to give a joint freedom, I believe this has never happened before.

"At a special meeting convened in April, the council voted unanimously to give Sir Ian and Lady Jane the Freedom of the Borough.

"Tonight we recognise their friendship and dedication to the Borough of Stafford; their hard work representing the monarchy and the borough will always be remembered."

Cllr Jeremy Pert, opposition group leader, highlighted the couple's down to earth approach with everyone they met.

He added: "Sir Ian and Lady Jane were ambassadors for the King in this county and they certainly brought the monarchy down to Staffordshire.

"They were fantastic representatives of the King in the dignity and role that they showed with people they met, with words, actions and deeds, but also in the ceremonial role.

"I remember, following the Queen's passing (Elizabeth II's death in 2022), the role that was played to make sure that everyone in Staffordshire had the opportunity to share in that grief, but in a very dignified way.

"They have a genuine interest in people, they are approachable and they have this lovely interest in the voluntary sector.

"I remember many times being at the Queen's Award for Voluntary Service, whether with Women's Aid, Eccleshall Show or Eccleshall First Responders, and the interest they showed with all these groups in building and continuing momentum in the voluntary sector, before Covid, during Covid and after Covid, which were seismic moments in our time,

"I think the service Sir Ian and Lady Jane have brought to this borough has been first class, and really brought the monarchy to the people of Staffordshire.

"I love the fact that they are being granted the ability to herd their sheep through Market Square."

The couple received their accolade from Borough Mayor Mark Winnington at Tuesday's full borough council meeting. They also signed the Freedom of the Borough Book.

Lady Jane said: "Thank you so much for your kind words and thank you for this huge honour that you have awarded us today.

"This has been made even more special by the realisation that it is really quite unusual.

"We all know this probably the first time that this has ever happened, and I have to say that it has probably brought a tear to my eye on several occasions since we were told.

"To be awarded an honour like this for doing something that we have truly loved is unusual, it's unexpected, it's very humbling and it's truly wonderful."

Sir Ian said: "I echo everything my wife has said.

"It has been an enormous pleasure to be Lord Lieutenant and live in this borough – in the centre of which is the county town.

"Lord Lieutenants in ceremonial counties depend hugely on the attitude the county town and council concerned give to the role.

"Over the 13 and a half years I was in post and we were undertaking this work, the support you gave to me never wavered.

"We have heard some of the key events that put the spotlight on the county town and Cllr Pert referred to the voluntary sector.

"I did a little research and in the time up until 2025, from the origin in 2003 when the first Queen's Awards for Voluntary Service were presented, Staffordshire has received 127 awards.

"Stafford Borough has received 29 of those 127 awards.

"It has been our great pleasure to jointly make 24 of those awards ourselves.

"When I think the population of Stafford Borough is something like 12.5% of the population of the ceremonial county of Staffordshire, I think that says a lot about the way this council is led and the priorities you give to the residents.

"Can I pay tribute to yourselves – every event you have organised has been beautifully organised and always executed without embarrassment to either the Lord Lieutenancy or to Stafford."