Bury St Edmunds nostalgia - charity worker Lady Miriam Hubbard becomes 26th Honorary Freeman of St Edmundsbury

In 1995, charity worker Lady Miriam Hubbard was granted the freedom of the Borough of St Edmundsbury.

Council leader Cllr Nigel Aitkens praised her example ‘as a leader who shows commitment, who can and has inspired others’.

During a special council meeting in the Athenaeum, Bury St Edmunds, Lady Miriam, then 70, received an illuminated copy of the resolution making her the 26th Honorary Freeman of St Edmundsbury.

Best known for her work with St Nicholas' Hospice, in Bury, Lady Miriam helped to raise £1.5 million for a new building five years previously.

Cllr Aitkens said hospice workers could not have achieved all they had without Lady Miriam's leadership.

"She has tremendous tenacity and vivacity to cope with all life has thrown at her," he added.

Lady Miriam said: "The hospice is for the terminally ill and we need all the help we can get.

"None of this I could have done alone, I'm deeply grateful to those who helped."

After founding Moreton Hall Preparatory School in 1962 with her husband Lt Cdr Peregrine Hubbard, Lady Miriam worked with Riding for the Disabled.

She was also chairman of Bury Catholic Women's League and St Louis Family Service.

After the service Lady Miriam reviewed a guard of honour from RAF Honington.