Dorothy celebrates her freedom at age of 82

She is one of six candidates for the honour who have had their awards rubber stamped by Doncaster Council and is just the third woman ever to receive the freedom of the borough of Doncaster.

The other five who will also receive their scrolls at a ceremony next year are jazz trombonist Dennis Rollins, Commonwealth Games siver-medal winning boxer and charity fund-raiser Tommy Joyce, Hayfield School’s long-serving headteacher Tony Storey, Archdeacon of Doncaster the Venerable Robert Fitzharris, and funfair king and charity worker Roger Tuby.

Mrs Layton was a councillor for Rossington for over 20 years and became Doncaster civic mayor for 1996-97. She is receiving the honour in recognition her decades of work in the community. She said: “This is absolutely thrilling. When you retire you think that everyone has forgotten about you but it’s nice to know they haven’t. I will be 83 on September 27, so this is a lovely early birthday present for me!

“It’s wonderful to be honoured like this and I’d like to thank John Quinn and Rossington Parish Council for nominating me and Doncaster Council for voting.”