A man who has dedicated the best part of his life to serving the people of Fife has been granted the freedom of the region.
Willie Clarke stood down as a councillor last month after 43 years of public service.
Known as Britain’s last elected communist politician, the 81-year-old, a councillor for the Lochs ward in West Fife, took the decision to stand down due to ill health.
Regional councillors queued up to pay tribute to Mr Clarke at a full meeting of Fife Council and granted him the freedom of the region in honour of his work.
Council leader David Ross hailed Mr Clarke’s conduct in office and paid testament to his career outwith the local authority.
“He had a really positive role to play in the mining industry through the mining union, both locally and nationally,” he said.
“He was an exceptional role model for an industry that was central to Fife.”
In receiving the honour, Mr Clarke becomes only the third person to have been awarded the freedom of Fife.
Scottish musician Jimmy Shand and The Black Watch are the only other entities to have received the accolade.
A formal ceremony to award Mr Clarke the Freedom of Fife will take place later this year.
