Coleshill’s much loved Dr Jack granted Freedom of the Borough
At a Special Meeting of North Warwickshire Borough Council on 25th June, three local citizens were granted Freedom of the Borough. Sir William Dugdale was admitted to be an Honorary Freeman for his public service with Meriden Rural District Council, with the County Council, with local and national bodies and as former High Sheriff of Warwickshire. Reginald Place was granted the same honour for his long and distinguished public service as a Borough and County Councillor, his work with local, national and European bodies and as former Leader of the Borough Council.
Coleshill resident Jack Macfarlane Stuart was admitted as an Honorary Freeman of the Borough of North Warwickshire as an expression of the high esteem in which he is held by the Council and residents of the Borough and in recognition of his exceptional involvement in community life. Dr Jack Stuart qualified in 1942 and joined the Army as a Medical Officer in 1943, serving in the France and Germany Campaigns. Post-war, he trained in several Birmingham Hospitals. Jack entered General Practice in Coleshill and served here for 40 years. He retired from practice in 1989 and subsequently served in many Coleshill Societies. In 1991, Jack was made an Honorary Townsman of Coleshill and in 2002 he received the MBE for Services to the Community.
At the meeting the Mayor presented all three Honorary Freeman with a sealed and illuminated copy of the resolution inscribed on vellum and a commemorative medallion and offered congratulations on behalf of the Council and the people of the Borough.
Biography of Dr Jack Stuart
Jack Macfarlane Stuart was born in Glasgow in 1918. He was brought up in Walmley and Sutton Coldfield and attended Bishop Vesey's School and Birmingham Medical School. He qualified in 1942 and joined the Army as a Medical Officer in 1943, serving in France and Germany. After the war Dr Stuart trained in several Birmingham hospitals. He then entered General Practice in Coleshill and served there 40 years.
Dr Stuart married Stella in 1948 who died in 1971, they had two children. He married Bena in 1973 and had two more children. Bena served on Parish, Borough & County Councils and was Mayor of North Warwickshire in1998. Dr Stuart retired from practice in 1989 and subsequently served in many Coleshill societies. In 1991 he was made an Honorary Townsman of Coleshill.His hobbies include gardening and sailing tall ships. In 2002 he was given an M.B.E. for Services to the Community. Dr Stuart celebrated his 90th birthday in 2008.
Editor:
The above article has gone into the Coleshill Gazette, which is why it is slanted towards favouring Dr Stuart. No offence to the other two fine gentlemen. I also have a personal soft spot for Dr Jack as I met him last year at an event in Coleshill, in fact I sat opposite him for the Probus Club Christmas dinner and was extremely impressed and fascinated by his warmth, clarity, humour and strong commitment to humanity. My particular favourite story about Dr Jack, related by the good man himself, was how he became an environmental activist during the building of the toll motorway through North Warwickshire, eventually performing the role of 'runner', going back and forth across the no-man's land between the police lines and the tree and tunnel dwelling activists . My kind of G.P - enjoy your Freedom Dr Jack!
P.S. from the Editor
Is that the same William Dugdale who was a director of Aston Villa, whom I believe is also an uncle of David Cameron? Spaghetti Gazetti readers please let us know more details...
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