News: Rotherham's newest Freemen
Lieutenant Commander Allen Dixon, Brian Chapple and Stephen Smith, MBE, are set to become Honorary Freemen of Rotherham.
Elected Members of the Council recently agreed that arrangements should be made to admit them in recognition of their eminent service to the borough.
Northumberland-born Brian Chapple has lived and worked in Rotherham since 1969. He started his career as a teacher at Wickersley Comprehensive School and then Old Hall Comprehensive School. He then held a number of positions at Rotherham Council including education adviser and OFSTED inspector and went on to become the independent chair of The Rotherham Partnership.
From 2001, Brian's career focused on the Rotherham Rugby club where he worked as chief executive, and he was instrumental in establishing the Titans Community Foundation.
Rotherham United appointed Brian as their new community director in 2011 as they looked to maximise the community aspects of their new stadium but Brian left the role after suffering from ill health later that year. Brian was already well know to Rotherham United fans through his work as a commentator for Radio Sheffield from 1982-2004 ("Everybody's gone mad, I've gone mad, the fans are on the pitch, who blames them"). He is currently working on details for Paul Warne's testimonial.
Brian also joined Full Circle Learning as chairman in November 2010. Full Circle works with a number of partners in the town to provide training opportunities for young people in areas such as construction, security and IT. Partners include Lifeskills, Morrison plc and Rotherham United.
Steve D Smith, MBE is a criminal lawyer at Wilford Smith Solicitors in Rotherham town centre and is famed for his high profile cases, after-dinner speaking and charity work. Sheffield-born Steve aspired for a life in showbusiness but was drawn to the theatre of the courtroom and worked at local solicitors whilst studying for his legal exams. He moved to Rotherham in 1971 despite being told that "it was so rough even the kids played conkers with hammers" and grew to like it and its people.
In 1981 he set up Wilford Smith with friend, Steve Wilford, specialising in fraud and environmental cases, together with serious crime, such as murder, manslaughter and drug related offences. The firm went on to attract high profile clients including the late Adam Faith, the boxer Prince Naseem Hamed, and Rotherham peer, Lord Ahmed. With plenty of stories to tell, Steve has become a successful author and after dinner speaker.
The self-confessed workaholic is also involved in several local charities (raising an estimated £2-4m) including being chairman of the SAFE@Last charity that provides refuges for abused children. Steve was awarded the MBE in 2006 for services to Rotherham and South Yorkshire charities.
For over 50 years, Commander Dixon has organised both the Remembrance Day and Mayor's Parades through Rotherham town centre. Since 1958 and even after his retirement in 2012, he has organised and planned the two annual parades, that often involve hundreds of people.
Wilford Smith website
Rotherham Council website
Images: Brian Chapple / twitter / yourstevesmith.com
Elected Members of the Council recently agreed that arrangements should be made to admit them in recognition of their eminent service to the borough.
Northumberland-born Brian Chapple has lived and worked in Rotherham since 1969. He started his career as a teacher at Wickersley Comprehensive School and then Old Hall Comprehensive School. He then held a number of positions at Rotherham Council including education adviser and OFSTED inspector and went on to become the independent chair of The Rotherham Partnership.
From 2001, Brian's career focused on the Rotherham Rugby club where he worked as chief executive, and he was instrumental in establishing the Titans Community Foundation.
Rotherham United appointed Brian as their new community director in 2011 as they looked to maximise the community aspects of their new stadium but Brian left the role after suffering from ill health later that year. Brian was already well know to Rotherham United fans through his work as a commentator for Radio Sheffield from 1982-2004 ("Everybody's gone mad, I've gone mad, the fans are on the pitch, who blames them"). He is currently working on details for Paul Warne's testimonial.Brian also joined Full Circle Learning as chairman in November 2010. Full Circle works with a number of partners in the town to provide training opportunities for young people in areas such as construction, security and IT. Partners include Lifeskills, Morrison plc and Rotherham United.
Steve D Smith, MBE is a criminal lawyer at Wilford Smith Solicitors in Rotherham town centre and is famed for his high profile cases, after-dinner speaking and charity work. Sheffield-born Steve aspired for a life in showbusiness but was drawn to the theatre of the courtroom and worked at local solicitors whilst studying for his legal exams. He moved to Rotherham in 1971 despite being told that "it was so rough even the kids played conkers with hammers" and grew to like it and its people.
In 1981 he set up Wilford Smith with friend, Steve Wilford, specialising in fraud and environmental cases, together with serious crime, such as murder, manslaughter and drug related offences. The firm went on to attract high profile clients including the late Adam Faith, the boxer Prince Naseem Hamed, and Rotherham peer, Lord Ahmed. With plenty of stories to tell, Steve has become a successful author and after dinner speaker.The self-confessed workaholic is also involved in several local charities (raising an estimated £2-4m) including being chairman of the SAFE@Last charity that provides refuges for abused children. Steve was awarded the MBE in 2006 for services to Rotherham and South Yorkshire charities.
For over 50 years, Commander Dixon has organised both the Remembrance Day and Mayor's Parades through Rotherham town centre. Since 1958 and even after his retirement in 2012, he has organised and planned the two annual parades, that often involve hundreds of people.
Wilford Smith website
Rotherham Council website
Images: Brian Chapple / twitter / yourstevesmith.com
1 comments:
Well done Brian Chapple, I always thought you were Mr Rotherham. All your hard work and commitment to Rotherham has now been recognised, Great news.
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