Former Royal Marine from Plymouth to be awarded Freedom of the City
Mark Ormrod MBE has been recognised as someone who has gone the extra mile to enhance the city’s reputation
One of Plymouth’s most inspirational residents will be awarded with the highest honour the city can bestow.
Former Royal Marine Mark Ormrod MBE, will be awarded the title of Honorary Freeman of the City of Plymouth, after a formal decision was made at Monday's Full Council meeting (22 November).
Mark’s life changed forever on Christmas Eve 2007 when he was blown up by an improvised explosive device whilst on a routine patrol in Afghanistan. He lost an arm and both legs above the knee and was twice pronounced dead at the scene.
Doctors originally told him that he would never walk again. But just five months later, he marched onto the parade ground on prosthetics to collect his tour of duty medal.
Today, Mark is an internationally acclaimed motivational speaker, a peak performance coach and the author of the award winning auto-biography Man Down.
He’s won 11 medals, including four golds at the Invictus Games and is a source of daily inspiration for the thousands of people who follow him on Social Media.
He is a relentless charitable fund-raiser and earlier this month was awarded the Pride of Britain Fundraiser of the year award in recognition of the hundreds of thousands of pounds he has raised for charity by undertaking remarkable feats of endurance.
He has run 3,500 miles across the US to raise awareness of wounded veterans, cycled 3,000 miles around the UK and this year raised almost half a million pounds for veterans’ charity REORG by taking part in a 5km run, a 1km swim across Plymouth Sound and a 99.9 mile bike ride.
Council Leader Nick Kelly said: "Mark Ormrod is without question one of Plymouth’s most inspirational residents. His achievements since he suffered life changing injuries in 2007 are nothing short of amazing.
"I would like to think everyone in Plymouth is incredibly proud of Mark, his attitude and massive contribution to society and this city. We are absolutely delighted to be able to award him with the highest honour the City of Plymouth can bestow."
Cllr Nick Kelly - Leader of Plymouth City Council
Mark said: "As a born and bred Plymothian I am absolutely honoured to be awarded with the Freedom of the City.
"It’s been a pretty intense year for me and this is a perfect way to end it, by being recognised with the highest honour that my home city can bestow. Thank you so much."
Mark Ormrod MBE
It was also confirmed at September’s Full Council that Plymouth’s Tom Daley would also be granted Freedom of the City. Tom is being formally recognised not only for his amazing achievements in diving, but also as an ambassador for the city of Plymouth.
Being awarded the Honorary Freedom of the City is the highest honour the city can bestow.
The title of Honorary Freeman or Freewoman is awarded to ‘persons of distinction’ who have shown exceptional service or achievement.
It recognises those who have provided ‘eminent services’ to Plymouth and gone the extra mile to enhance the city’s reputation or improve the lives of people less able to help themselves.
Only 45 individuals and organisations have been awarded Honorary Freedom of the City of Plymouth since 1917.