Lifetime Achievement Award for Cllr Hilda Rhodes
Telford & Wrekin Councillor Hilda Rhodes (Lab) was awarded the LGiU Lifetime Achievement Award last night.
The LGiU said: “Councillor Hilda Rhodes has been selected for the Lifetime Achievement Award for the extraordinary way she has serviced her local community as a councillor for the past 35 years.
“She was recognised for providing a strong voice on the council for the whole community – young and old alike.
“Judges were also impressed by her work to ensure the Wakes Community Centre remains a vibrant and welcoming community hub long into the future.”
Hilda Rhodes was first elected as councillor for Oakengates and Ketley Bank in 1987 and has served her local community for 35 years.
Cllr Rhodes has been mayor twice, once when the local authority was Wrekin Council in 1992/93 and again as the first mayor for the newly formed borough of Telford and Wrekin in 2002/03.
Hilda has also held a number of key positions in the cabinet at Telford & Wrekin Council, most recently as cabinet member for customer services, libraries and transport in 2015 and as cabinet member for transport, roads and broadband in 2018. She currently chair of the licensing committee and is the deputy speaker.
She is also deputy mayor at Oakengates Town Council and vice chair at Ketley Parish Council. As well as being a school governor for The Meadows School and also a new nursery in the town.
Councillor Hilda Rhodes was instrumental in securing the future of The Wakes Community Centre, in the heart of Oakengates, when it needed investment in 2017. Hilda could see its potential and how it could play for future generations so set about protecting this important community asset.
Councillor Hilda Rhodes (Lab) said: “I am so proud to represent the town I have called home for my whole life.
“It is a privilege to represent local people and I am so grateful that they continue to put their trust in me.”
Councillor Shaun Davies (Lab), leader of Telford & Wrekin Council, said:
“I want to offer my congratulations to my friend and colleague Hilda on this brilliant recognition for her service to the local community over the past 35 years.
“Hilda is so well known by her constituents that she is on first name terms with most of them. She is well-loved and trusted by the people she serves.
“I would also like to extend my congratulations to the joint winner of the Lifetime Achievement Award, Cllr Lewis Herbert.”
