It is a pleasure to report that long-term member of the Society, Professor Sir Martyn Poliakoff (CBE FREng FRS), was made an Honorary Freeman of the Borough of Broxtowe on Wednesday 16 November at a special meeting of the Borough Council. 

Admission to the Freedom of the Borough – Broxtowe’s highest honour – recognises his energetic commitment to Beeston.  A resident for over 40 years he has encouraged interest in our past, present and future, while acting as a proactive link between The University of Nottingham and our wider community. 

His passions for encouraging young people and for sustainable development were acknowledged at the ceremony, as were specific achievements including his lead in promoting a wider community conversation about the future of Beeston through the the Society’s #Beeston2020Vision. Martyn is also an active member of Greening Beeston, an environmental campaign to help fight the Climate Crisis of Global Heating, with Dr Janet Poliakoff, his wife. He is also Vice President of Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust where he is on the Scientific Committee for Attenborough Nature Reserve.

Martyn was one of seven local people recognised for their services to the Borough in a once-every-four-years occasion that took place in the refurbished Beeston Old Town Hall, Foster Avenue. 

Our congratulations to all who were honoured in this way this year and our special thanks to Martyn for his enthusiastic support in helping to make Beeston a better place to live, work and visit. 

For fuller acknowledgements see: https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/news/you-tube-hero-professor-recognised-for-contribution-to-local-communityand YouTube chemistry professor Sir Martyn Poliakoff honoured – BBC News

Images below (from top): Receiving the Freedom of the Borough of Broxtowe from Deputy Mayor Cllr. Teresa Cullen; the certificate of Honorary Freedom; ‘Virtues of Reusable Plastic’ explained in Martyn’s thanks to Council.

Peter Robinson
Beeston + District Civic Society President

22 November 2022