Former Dover Mercury chief reporter Graham Tutthill has been made an honorary freeman of the town.

Graham, who spent 48 years reporting Dover, the last 40 of those with the Mercury, received the honour at Thursday’s mayor-making ceremony in Dover Town Hall.

The award was presented by new town mayor Pam Brivio, who took over from Ronnie Philpott.

Cllr Philpott said Graham’s reporting had always been fair, balanced and accurate, and he had been a credit to the town and to his profession.

Graham, who retired from the Mercury last November, has always been heavily involved with the Dover community. He ran a church youth club for many years, and has been involved with the Girls Venture Corps, 69 Motorcycle Club, League of Friends of Dover Hospitals, Gateway Hospital Broadcasting Service, Dover Committee of Trinity College of Music and the Crabble Corn Mill Trust.

He said he was humbled by the award and very honoured to receive it. He said Dover is a wonderful town and he had always been happy to report it in a positive way.

See next week’s Dover Mercury for the full stories, with pictures, about Graham’s award and about the new town mayor.