Bath’s recently retired Heritage boss Stephen Bird is to be given an honorary Freeman of the City award during Saturday’s Mayor Making ceremony at Bath Abbey.
As Head of Heritage Services – he helped power the local tourist economy.
For 41 years, Stephen was based in the city centre – surrounded by the crowds of tourists he had worked hard – over four decades – to encourage to come and view Bath’s Roman and Georgian legacies.
Not surprisingly, he was awarded the MBE in 2018 for his services to museums, heritage and tourism.
He oversaw the continual commercial and historical development of the Roman Baths, Pump Room and Fashion Museum and his legacy must be the opening of the new World Heritage Centre in York Street
That’s been a ten-year ‘marathon’ for him that started when he showed the Heritage Lottery Fund officer around the old city laundry site in 2011!
Stephen will join the ranks of many other illustrious folk to be awarded this honour – from Nelson to Winston Churchill and Haile Selassie.
I think l am right in saying tv personality and Bath-born Mary Berry was the last person to be given this honour back in 2013.
