Jade Thirlwall granted freedom of borough honour

Popstar Jade Thirlwall has said receiving her home borough's highest honour has been "truly one of the best things" in her career and life.

The former Little Mix singer, who was born and raised in South Shields, was awarded the honorary Freedom of the Borough by South Tyneside Council on Wednesday.

She said she was a "proud Sand Dancer" and added: "No matter how far I travel, no matter where I perform in the world, it doesn't compare to where I come from".

At the same ceremony, the owner of Colmans Fish and Chips and Colmans Seafood Temple Richard Ord MBE was also bestowed with the freedom honour.

An honorary Freedom of the Borough is the highest honour the council can bestow on an individual or organisation.

Jade, now a solo performer, was nominated for the accolade "in recognition of her outstanding contribution as a cultural ambassador and her ongoing commitment to South Tyneside", according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

The 32-year-old has a bar on Ocean Road called Arbeia and is honorary president of South Shields Football Club.

In October, councillor David Francis, of the Green Party, said he was aware of Jade primarily because she used her "platform to speak out and amplify the voices of the marginalised".

Reading a speech at the ceremony, the pop star admitted that public speaking made her nervous.

"This has been truly one of the best things I could be given in my career and in life," she said.

"Whenever someone asks me where I'm from I say, 'Up North, South Shields, have you heard of it?'

"'Yeah, but, where are you really from?' And I know what that really means but I'll entertain it since it fills me with pride.

"I am a little mix of English, Egyptian and Yemeni," she said.

She told of how growing up, her mum worked in a primary school and her dad was a taxi driver nicknamed 'TikTok'.

"There's talent in the Tyne - this is a big river, where small town meets big names," Jade said.

"I'm from a place where pride is our passion.

"We get our kicks from supporting our own - whether it's South Shields FC or Joe McElderry or Chris and Rosie Ramsey.

"I'm a proud Sand Dancer from South Tyneside and no matter how far I travel, no matter where I perform in the world, it doesn't compare to where I come from."

Mr Ord was granted an MBE in the 2021 New Year's Honours list for his service to the hospitality industry and regeneration of South Tyneside.

Councillor Ernest Gibson said: "Richard's dedication to the borough and South Tyneside is second to none.

"Today is a fitting tribute to a man who could just as easily be called Mr South Tyneside or Elvis of the chip shops because he's that famous."

Mr Ord said he was "deeply humbled" and he was "really, really proud" to call South Tyneside his home.

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