Oldham's Olympic hero deserves the Freedom of the Borough say Oldham's MPs

Matt Walls from Shaw

All three of Oldham's MPs have written to the leader of the council to ask that the borough officially recognises the success of Olympian Matt Walls.

The 23-year-old cyclist from Shaw earned a gold medal in the men's omnium, helping to secure Team GB's spectacular performance at the Tokyo games.

Now, Debbie Abrahams, Jim McMahon, and Angela Rayner have written to Council Leader Arooj Shah to ask that the council recognice Matt's achievement with the Freedom of the Borough of Oldham.

The letter highlights Oldham's "long and recent history in raising Olympians", including Henry Taylor in 1908, Dorothy Emerson in 1960 and Nicola White MBE who won a gold medal at the 2016 games.

The Freedom of the Borough is the highest honour a town can bestow, commemorating "persons of distinction and persons who have, in the opinion of the council, rendered eminent services to the local area".

The request concludes: "We are asking that the council recognise the achievement on Matthew's return, and that he is awarded Freedom of the Borough of Oldham in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the 2021 Olympic Games."

Previous recipients of the Freedom of the Borough include Sir Winston Churchill, philanthropist Sir Norman Stoller and Atlantic-rower, Frank Rothwell.

You can read the full letter here.

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