Adele set to be given ‘Freedom of Welshpool’

Adele Nicoll’s inspirational journey to becoming an Olympian is set to make her an Honoury Freewoman of Welshpool.

Welshpool Town Council has called a special meeting for tomorrow (Tuesday) evening to “resolve to confer the title of honorary freewoman on Ms Adele Nicoll as a person of distinction in recognition of her outstanding achievements in sport”.

Adele had us all on the edge of our seats last week when she competed in the Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina, Italy. The 29-year-old took part in the Monobob and the 2-woman bobsleigh events, recording impressive mid-table finishes despite only taking up the sport as a pilot three years ago.

She is already established as a top-class summer athlete, having won the British shot put title three times, and is back in training already looking to secure her spot on the Welsh team for this summer’s Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

An Honorary Freewoman is a prestigious, ceremonial title bestowed by a city or borough council upon a woman who has rendered exceptional service or brought distinction to the local area.

It is the highest honour that a council can grant, requiring a two-thirds majority vote, and is purely symbolic, offering no special rights or legal powers.

It is thought that Adele could be the first recipient in Welshpool since the 1960s.