TWO former mayors and a retired town clerk have been awarded Honorary Citizenship of Dorchester in a ceremony at the weekend.

Past mayors Alistair Chisholm and Tim Harries and retired town clerk Dennis Holmes were presented with the honour by Mayor Robin Potter at a special ceremony in the Corn Exchange.

Both Mr Chisholm and Mr Harries decided not to stand for re-election at the last time the town went to the polls in May 2024.

The Mayor presented the three honorary citizens with a scroll presented in a wooden casket after speeches in support of the nominations – Cllr Gareth Jones for Mr Chisholm, Cllr Stella Jones for Mr Harries and Cllr Molly Rennie for Mr Holmes.

Mr Holmes was Town Clerk and Proper Officer between 1987 to 2013; Mr Chisholm received his honour for being the town's award winning Town Crier from 1996 to 2023 and had also served as Mayor; Mr Harries was a town councillor from 1987 until 2024; Mayor in 95-96, 2004-5 and 16-17.

He also served as a West Dorset District Councillor from 1991 to 2019 and on the Shadow Dorset Council 2018-19.