'Historic day': War veteran, 102, becomes first to receive Freedom of Harrogate

This article is free to read. Help support independent local journalism at the Stray Ferret by subscribing for as little as 14p per day. You can do so here.

A Harrogate war veteran has become the first person to receive the Freedom of the Town.

Sheila Pantin, who celebrated her 102nd birthday today, was bestowed the honour at a ceremony at Harrogate Civic Centre today (October 21).

Harrogate Town Council granted the award in recognition of her extraordinary wartime service.

During today’s ceremony, Councillor Chris Aldred, mayor of Harrogate, described the occasion as a “historic day” which represented “the deep mark of respect” towards Mrs Pantin.

He said:

Mrs Pantin has lived in Harrogate since the 1970s after moving to the town to work at the Army Foundation College.

She joined the army aged just 17 and trained as an ambulance and staff car driver with the Auxiliary Territorial Service, the women's branch of the British Army, rising to the rank of sergeant.

After being posted abroad in autumn 1944, she was detailed to lead a convoy of about 10 three-tonne Bedford lorries across France and Belgium entering into Nazi Germany from Holland.

In April 1945, Mrs Pantin became one of the first British service women to enter Bergen-Belsen, a German concentration camp, after its liberation.

After the war, she lived in places around the world such as Hong Kong, Belize and Northern Ireland. She left the military to have her daughter Helen in 1950, and later worked as a PE teacher before returning to the Army.

Mrs Pantin finished her career at the army college in Harrogate, and has remained in the town ever since.

'I am amazed'

Cllr Paula Stott, who represents central ward on the town council, put forward the motion to grant Mrs Pantin the Freedom of Harrogate and described her as an “unsung hero” of the town.

The motion proposed bestowing the honour for her service in the Auxiliary Territorial Services, her “impossibly difficult work” during the liberation of Bergen-Belsen camp and her “continuing lifetime efforts to help all women and children everywhere you can”.

After the ceremony, Mrs Pantin told the Stray Ferret:

Mrs Pantin was joined at the ceremony by family and friends, including Nigel McClea, of Harrogate Civic Society, who described her as having “lived a remarkable life”.

Michael Pantin, Mrs Pantin’s stepson, told the Stray Ferret it was an emotional day and a reward that was worthy of a long life.

He said: