18th August 2010

BRIDPORT: Widower fights for his wife to receive town award

by Tom Glover

A BROKEN-HEARTED widower’s fight to see his late wife honoured for her charity work could finally get his wish a year on from her death.

After hearing Peter Billingham’s story, Bridport Town Council have now agreed to discuss rules surrounding its Honorary Townsperson Award, which it currently does not award posthumously.

The award is given to residents who have made a significant and lasting contribution to the town. Past recipients have included Bernard Gale, Rex Trevett and most recently Margaret Lathey, who herself is backing the rule change which will allow Peter’s wife Jalna to receive the honour.

“I fully support Peter,” she said, “Jalna did a lot for me with both the Red Cross and the Royal British Legion.

“Nothing was ever too much trouble for her. I don’t see any problem with giving the award posthumously. I think she thoroughly deserved it for all the work she did and it’s just a pity she won’t be here to receive it in person. She was so reliable, you just had to ask for her help and she would be there. She was a lovely person and it’s such a shame that she was taken from us so young.”

Childhood sweethearts, Peter and Jalna, moved to Bradpole in 1987 and Jalna began her charity work soon after.

She first became a member of BACIit, campaigning for an indoor swimming pool for the town and helping to raise £182,500 in 11 years.

She was also on the advisory panel of WATAG, the town’s transport action group, spent 12 years volunteering her time at blood donor sessions and regularly helped out at Chancery House and the Bridport Luncheon Club.

Jalna also volunteered at the hospital library, made teas for Bridport Cricket Club and was a dressmaker for Theatrearma, to mention just a few of the group’s who were regular benefactors of her efforts.

Jalna was friends with a number of town councillors, many of whom knew her from her voluntary work for the West Dorset Liberal Democrats.

Liberal Democrat and Bridport Town Councillor Ros Kayes said: “Jalna’s husband Peter feels that a memorial bench or similar form of recognition is not enough, and I agree; Jalna was one of those people who made an impact throughout the town.

“Even though she did not live here all her life her funeral was packed with representatives from organisations she had been involved with and helped on a voluntary basis. I would like to see her get the recognition she deserved. Why don’t we create honorary townspersons posthumously? Other towns do. I hope now this is going to committee that we can persuade the town council to recognise all the hard work she did for Bridport.”

Councillor Roger Stoodley added: “She was a person who was always self-effacing. She did everything for everybody but she was happy to take the back seat and never wanted the limelight or the recognition for her work.

“Jalna was a lovely lady who did it all without reward and I’d be very happy to see the rules changed so she could be honoured for her work.”

Peter was advised to contact the town council by MP Oliver Letwin who helped him to nominate Jalna for an MBE.

When Peter was informed by the House of Commons that the MBE could not be awarded posthumously he contacted the town council to see if she could receive the Honorary Townsperson award.

Town Clerk Bob Gillis said: “The town council does bestow the title of honorary townsman or woman on people who have made a significant and lasting contribution to the town but sadly this is not awarded posthumously.

“This is the only title that the town council is able to bestow. I have discussed the situation with Mr Billingham and explained the position. I will, though, be asking members to consider this matter and the potential options at a future meeting of the council.”

Peter is hoping that the council now agree to change the rules surrounding the honour.

“She deserves it,” he said. “People have asked me if she has been honoured and I have to say no, not at all.

“Everyone thought she was a lovely lady and she’d do anything for anyone. No one had a bad word to say about her and she never had a bad word for anybody else.”

PICTURE: CHILDHOOD SWEETHEARTS - Peter and his late wife Jalna Billingham, pictured on their golden wedding anniversary