Agenda item

The Mayor opened the item by commenting that it was a great privilege to welcome Jordan and Cian Adams to the Special Meeting of Council at which they would be conferred the civic honour of Freemen of the Borough.  Jordan and Cian Adams were praised for their endurance and for raising awareness of and funding for frontotemporal dementia.  It was highlighted that through their actions, they had acted as positive representatives of Redditch and the community was proud of their achievements.

The conferring of the Freemen of the Borough honour on Jordan and Cian Adams was proposed by Councillor Matthew Dormer.  In moving the resolutions, Councillor Dormer noted that the original proposal to grant Freemen of the Borough status had been agreed in a Motion on Notice considered at a meeting of Council in June 2026, which had received cross-party support. 

Jordan and Cian Adams had sadly suffered bereavement following the death of their mother from frontotemporal dementia.  Their participation in 32 marathons in 32 consecutive days, as well as participation in the London Marathon with Jordan carrying a fridge on his back, had raised funding for The Alzheimer’s Association of Ireland and the FTD Brothers’ Foundation.  In addition, it had received widespread attention which had helped to raise awareness of this rare form of dementia.  Redditch residents were proud of their achievements and this had been highlighted in the public’s reception on their return home to Redditch in May 2026.

Reference was made to Local Government Reorganisation and it was acknowledged that Redditch Borough Council would cease to exist on 1^st April 2028.  However, civic honours would endure.  It was notable that this was only the fourth occasion in the history of the Borough on which this honour had been bestowed.  The suggestion was made that this demonstrated the level of support for and pride in Jordan and Cian Adams’s achievements within Redditch.

In seconding the resolutions, Councillor Sharon Harvey commented that dementia was an illness that would unfortunately impact on many people during their lifetimes.  Symptoms of frontotemporal dementia unfortunately developed in relatively young adults, aged in their forties and fifties and Jordan and Cian had both tested positive for the gene associated with the illness.  In response, they had raised over £2 million in funding and significant awareness of frontotemporal dementia.  Members, like all Redditch residents, were proud of Jordan and Cian’s achievements and keen to recognise this through the bestowal of this civic honour.

Following the speeches from the proposer and seconder, group leaders were invited to address Council.  In doing so, Councillor Nic Pioli highlighted the stamina and mental agility required to compete in a single marathon and noted that this would have been significantly more difficult to achieve in the context of participating 32 marathons in 32 days.  Jordan and Cian’s achievements were compared to that of superheroes and because they were such positive role models, the suggestion was made that young people in Redditch would seek to emulate their achievements in the future.

The Council subsequently took a vote on the admission of Jordan and Cian Adams to be honorary Freemen of the Borough and the Council approved the proposition unanimously.

Jordan Adams spoke in response to the conferring of this civic honour by the Council on himself and his brother and in doing so thanked the Council and local community.  Members were advised that Jordan and Cian’s family valued Redditch, recognising the support that they had received from local residents and businesses based in the community.  Furthermore, Jordan welcomed the support that his family had received when his mother had been unwell and when he and his brother had tested positive for the gene associated with frontotemporal dementia.  Jordan and Cian Adams had been proud to represent Redditch and they recognised the Freemen of the Borough award as an honour received from their home town.

RESOLVED

1)        to award the title of Honorary Freemen of the Borough of Redditch to Jordan Adams and to Cian Adams in recognition of their eminent service; and

2)        that the Common Seal of the Council be affixed to an Honorary Freedom Scroll to be presented to Jordan Adams and Cian Adams.