Rob & Ryan set to be awarded the Freedom of Wrexham

Rob McElhenney, Ryan Reynolds and Wrexham AFC look set to be awarded the highest and rarest local Civic award – the Freedom of Wrexham.

The honour is proposed by the Executive Board “In recognition of the long history of the football club in this area” and “In recognition of the global promotion and awareness of the club and the Wrexham area”.

The report before councillors adds, “Given the long history of the football club serving the place and people of Wrexham, the ground returning to the club’s ownership, the impact that the new owners have made in raising the global profile and awareness of Wrexham and completion of the first series of ‘Welcome to Wrexham’, it is considered important for the Council to recognise these contributions. ”

Councillor Mark Pritchard, Leader of Wrexham Council, says: “Football is the beating heart of our community and there’s always been incredible passion and support for the club.

“We have an amazing story here in Wrexham, along with a unique character and identity that is winning fans all over the world.

“These two Hollywood actors have had an incredible impact on both the football club and the community and have helped catapult Wrexham onto the world stage.

“You couldn’t wish to meet two nicer people – they really are two wonderful guys who’ve put their heart and soul into this city, and it feels like the right time to talk about how we recognise that.”

Councillor David A Bithell, Deputy Leader of Wrexham Council, says: “Football is in our blood in Wrexham, and the fortunes of the club have always had a huge bearing on our community.

“We are living and enjoying very exciting times and I’m pleased this proposal is being put forward to Executive Board.

“The owners are helping us promote Wrexham as a place to visit across the world, and we need to think about how we recognise that.

“Their impact on our community has been phenomenal.”

In a slightly unusual move the formal report before the Executive Board was presented at the media brief yesterday with a reluctance to answer questions, and the above press release being provided instead. Of course we dived in with a range of questions anyway, most with no comment.

We did ask if housing developers were due to have a large multi million pound development before the Planning Committee in the coming days, would it be odd for the council to then award a Mr Barrett-Homes, Mr Bellway or Mr Redrow a civic honour, and if the award was a little too close for planning.

Cllr David A Bithell went on the record to point out none of the Executive Board are on the Planning Committee.

The other question that got an on the record response was when we pointed out the Wrexham Supporters Trust saved Wrexham AFC, in a climate where Wrexham Council was absent at best, and queried if an honour should perhaps have headed that way before others.

Cllr Mark Pritchard said, “The owners have changed and there is a new administration running this council. From day one this administration has engaged with the football club and we work tirelessly to work together to improve the football club, and to work with them”.

We approached the Conservative Group for comment, however they declined not feeling it was appropriate ahead of the Planning meeting on Monday.

A joint statement has been issued by Cllrs Dana Davies (Labour Group Leader) and Marc Jones (Plaid Cymru Group Leader), who appear miffed at the process that has taken place to get the proposal on the table, and are unhappy at the timing of the announcement, and as a result do not comment on it directly.

Detailing some of the behind the scenes discussions recently it highlights their concerns of the civic award announcement with the Kop redevelopment being decided at the Planning Committee meeting at 4pm on Monday, and then the Executive Board set to discuss the ‘Freedom’ proposal the following day at midday on Tuesday 8th.

The joint statement from Cllrs Davies and Jones is below in full:

“The Freedom of the City civic award being proposed for Wrexham AFC and its current owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenny is something that has been discussed with group leaders and the mayor over the past fortnight. This civic award is the highest accolade that the County Borough can bestow and is usually granted for outstanding service to, or achievement associated with the County Borough of Wrexham and, as such, it is a decision for full council.

“There was cross-party agreement that this should not be discussed or announced before the planning application for the Racecourse Kop, which will be debated at committee on Monday, 7th November. We all felt it would be inappropriate to announce any proposal regarding the club and its owners in advance of that as it could be perceived to be having an undue influence on the planning process. Unfortunately that cross-party agreement was broken by the Leader of the Council – there is no good reason for this to come before the Executive Board. It’s a matter for the full council to decide at its next meeting on 21st December. It would be inappropriate to comment further at this time.”

Historically then Prime Minister Lloyd George was awarded the Freedom of the Borough, with a ‘silver tea and coffee service’ awaiting formal presentation for over four years, before the then ex-PM attended the Eisteddfod in Mold and received the award in 1923.

Other such gifts are documented throughout history, with a long standing town clerk who received the award in 1906 being presented with a ‘handsome casket’ – and his wife being given a gold necklace and pendant, the latter being ‘an exact facsimile of the seal of the borough’.

Ryan and Rob are set to receive “a casket containing the address to honorary freeman” which will cost ‘a reasonable sum’.

Although the full list is not public, other recipients include the Royal Welch Fusiliers, Alderman William Aston (who gifted Acton Park and Hall to the council), Brymbo born Thomas Price who was the first Premier of South Australia as well as helped build Adelaide’s Parliament House – and returned to Brymbo and received the award. More recently saw the award to 101 Force Support Battalion – Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME), along with double Olympic gold medallist Tom James.

If the report gets Executive Board approval, which all reports to the board do, it will mean a recommendation will end up at Full Council for all councillors to have their say and vote on the suggestion.