Pop icon and restaurant owner to receive borough's highest honour

Local music icon Jade and the owner of one of the region's best known restaurants are both to be officially bestowed with South Tyneside Council's highest honour.

- by Nick Marko

Richard Ord MBE, owner of Colmans Fish and Chips and Colmans Sea Food Temple in South Shields.

An extraordinary meeting of South Tyneside Council voted to grant the prestigious Honorary Freedom of the Borough to Jade Thirlwall who rose to fame as part of Little Mix and now goes by only her first name after launching her solo career.

Councillors also agreed to award the honour to Richard Ord MBE, the owner of Colmans Fish and Chips and Colmans Sea Food Temple in South Shields.

Council leader Cllr Tracey Dixon, speaking at the extraordinary meeting, said the two individuals "could not be more deserving of the marvellous tribute that our council can give."

She added the Honorary Freedom of the Borough is the highest honour the local authority can bestow on any individual or organisation.

South Shields-born Jade is receiving the prize "in recognition of her outstanding contribution as a cultural ambassador and her ongoing commitment to South Tyneside."

Labour's Cllr Dixon said: "Jade has played a major role in the social activism, charity work and the culture of South Tyneside residents.

"Jade is the honorary president for South Shields Football Club, taking on the role in August 2020, raising the club's profile nationally and internationally.