Council is requested to consider proposals to create an Honorary Freewoman and an Honorary Freeman (Posthumous).

The Leader of the Council moved the recommendation from the Freedom Panel and emphasised that it was the highest award which the council could bestow.

The first nominee, Nunzia Bertali, had been head of the Italian Consulate office in Birkenhead for more than 20 years. As Honorary Consul she had received no pay but provided consular support across the North West and had a major role in the teaching of Italian language and culture in Wirral schools, and with town twinning. She was also involved in the Euro Wirral initiative in 1990s and early 2000s.

The second nominee was Second Lieutenant Frederick Simpson. He died at age 27 in 9 January 1944. He had been based at Burtonwood army air force base and was test flying a Thunderbolt plane when he reported that the plane was on fire. It flipped over and lost height and he steered it away from inhabited areas before crashing, sacrificing his life to save others. His gold signet ring was found in the wreckage and was returned to his home in Wisconsin and he was interred in a cemetery in Cambridge.

RESOLVED (unanimously): That

in pursuance of the provisions of Section 249(5) of the Local Government Act 1972 and in recognition of:

(1)  her outstanding service as Italian Consul over many years and then as Consular Correspondent providing services to Italians living in the North of England and for her outstanding contribution to the civic life of the Borough, Doctor Nunzia Bertali be admitted as an Honorary Freewoman of this Borough; and

(2)  his heroism on 9 January 1944 when he guided his stricken plane away from homes in Saughall Massie avoiding certain casualties on the ground, and in doing so giving his life for others, Second Lieutenant Jay Frederick Simpson of the United States Army Air Force be admitted as an Honorary Freeman of this Borough (posthumously).