A daily columnist who retired from frontline reporting earlier this year has been given the freedom of her family’s hometown later this week.
Judith Phillips, who stepped down after 53 years at the North Wales Weekly News in May, received the honour form Llandudno Town Council for her “exceptional public and voluntary service”.
Judith, pictured left, still writes a column for the NWWN’s sister title the Daily Post and has been described as “Mrs Llandudno” by the town’s mayor Malcolm Bullock.
The conferring of an Honorary Freedom on an individual carries no specific rights and privileges, but invitations are usually extended to attend special civic events.
Said Judith: “I am extremely honoured the town council have decided to award me the Freedom of the Town.
“My family have lived in Llandudno since the 1860s, and have always been passionate about the area.
“They have played a part in Llandudno’s development and civic life, my father was chairman of the chamber of trade and my uncle was the town’s publicity manager for many years.
“I’ve always done my best to promote Llandudno as it’s a wonderful place to live and a fantastic holiday destination.
“I am thrilled about this honour, although I honestly feel there are more deserving people than myself.
“I am very pleased to accept it in the spirit it’s been given.”
A great achievement – congratulations!
I always enjoyed working with Judith when I was on the North Wales Weekly News – a good friend and a very talented journalist.
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This lady is among the last of a breed of reporter who loves her area, knows it, and reports on it well. So many like her do not get or seek honours but have sadly lost their jobs in the cull by JP, Newsquest, TM et al. Within a few years none of this invaluable type of local reporter will be in the industry. Welcome to the age of the press release.
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Congratulations to Judith Phillips on her recent award
We wish her well in her retirement she will be missed by us, two ardent readers of her articles each week in the Daily Post.
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Some positive news amidst all the job loss gloom.
Perhaps we should remember that thousands of under-pressure reporters are still managing to get papers out, despite shamefully low levels of staff and management obsession with websites. Congrats and Merry Xmas to them all. They deserve it.
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The Nobel-winning novelist Gabriel Garcia Marquez said newspaper journalism was the greatest job on earth.
People like Judith would no doubt agree. That’s why they show dedication and commitment lasting half a century and more.
We are witnessing the gradual disappearance of some of the finest professionals in the country as the old generation of journalists take their leave.
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