Two Wilmslow residents were amongst seven Olympic and Paralympic medal winners to be appointed as Freemen of the Borough at a special meeting of Cheshire East Council today.
Craig MacLean was present at Congleton Town Hall to receive the highest accolade the Council can bestow on any of its citizens.
Craig, who lives in Wilmslow, won a gold medal at the London 2012 Paralympics with his cycling partner Anthony Kappes. He was pilot in the men's tandem sprint for the blind and visually impaired.
Also present at today's meeting were Paralympic cyclists Sarah Storey and Barney Storey, who live in Disley, and Paralympic sailor Niki Birrell.
Sarah won four gold medals in four events to become Great Britain's most celebrated Paralympian of all time with a total of 11 gold medals, eight silver medals and three bronze medals. Her husband Barney won a gold and silver in London to add to his double gold at the Beijing Paralympics in 2008.
Niki Birrell, a 26-year-old sailor from High Legh, won a bronze medal at the Paralympics competing alongside Alex Rickman in the Skud 18 class.
Cyclist Victoria Pendleton, who also lives in Wilmslow, was unable to attend today. She won a gold medal in the keirin and silver medal in the sprint final at the London Olympics.
Bunbury resident Beth Tweddle, Britain's most successful gymnast of all time, and Maccesfield born Ben Ainslie, the first person to win medals in five different Olympic Games in sailing, were also unable to attend.
Paying tribute to the Wilmslow cyclists, Cllr Wesley Fitzgerald said "Craig MacLean lives in Wilmslow. He has had a strong interest in cycling from a young age and has represented Great Britain in two Olympic Games. In 2000 in Sydney he won a silver medal in the team sprint with Sir Chris Hoy and Jason Queally.
"In 2010 he joined the Great Britain cycling team as a tandem pilot for blind and partially sited athletes. This summer along with Anthony Kappes he won a gold medal in the sprint on the last day of action in that wonderful velodrome at the Paralympic games.
"Members I am proud to be able to support the proposal that Craig MacLean is made a Freemen of the Borough."
Cllr Wesley Fitzgerald added "Victoria Pendleton lives in Wilmslow and is one of Britain's greatest ever cyclists. She started cycling at the age of 3 and became an Olympic champion in 2008 winning sprint gold at the Beijing Games. She has won 9 World titles and is a former Commonwealth champion.
"This summer in London she won gold in the keirin and she also won a silver in the sprint. Victoria is a very busy lady and regrettably cannot be with us today but members I am proud to be able to support the proposal that Victoria Pendleton is made a Freeman of the Borough."
Speaking on behalf of her fellow athletes, Sarah Storey said "It is such an honour to be honoured so close to home.
"We've always travelled to compete for our country and win medals but when you come home that's where it feels most special and obviously none of us could do what we do without the support of local people and without the support of our families.
"So we're very very grateful for this honour. Thank you very much Mr Mayor and all the councillors. We're absolutely delighted and hopefully we'll try and win some more medals in the future."
Cllr Michael Jones said "In addition to granting the Freedom of the Borough to our medal winners I am glad to be able to formally announce that they will all have Cheshire East streets named after them, leaving a permanent record."
Photo: (l-r) Barney Storey, Sarah Storey, Mayor of Cheshire East Cllr George Walton, Craig MacLean and Niki Birrell.
