Councillor Christopher John Fribbins Honoured with the Freedom of the Parish of Cliffe and Cliffe Woods

The Cliffe & Cliffe Woods Parish Council is proud to announce the awarding of its highest honour, the Freedom of the Parish, to Councillor Christopher John Fribbins in recognition of his outstanding service and dedication to the community over the past 40 years.

In a special ceremony held at St Helen’s Church in Cliffe on Sunday 27th October, Councillor Fribbins was celebrated for his decades-long commitment to public service, having served in various key roles across multiple local government bodies. His local political career began in 1984 when he was first elected to the Cliffe & Cliffe Woods Parish Council, where he served in various roles including Councillor, Vice-Chair, Chairman of the Council and Parish Clerk PO.

His remarkable contributions to local governance include his leadership on the local planning committee and his pivotal role in developing the Cliffe and Cliffe Woods Neighbourhood Plan. This significant initiative, which took seven years to complete, was successfully adopted by Medway Council in May 2023, marking a major achievement for the Parish.

Beyond his work on the council, Councillor Fribbins has been a tireless advocate for various local organisations. He has contributed to the Dickens Country Protection Society, Railfuture, the Kent Community Rail Partnership, the Cliffe Woods Community Association, the Cliffe & Cliffe Woods Community Trust, and the Allhallows Cross Park Association. He also continues to serve as Parish Clerk PO for both Halling and Allhallows Parish Councils.

In his speech, Barry Dibble, Chairman of the Cliffe & Cliffe Woods Parish Council, acknowledged the tremendous impact of Councillor Fribbins’ work, stating, "It is truly remarkable that this individual has dedicated 40 consecutive years of service to the Parish, displaying unwavering commitment, skill, and passion for the community."

Councillor Fribbins was presented with the Freedom of the Parish in front of local churchgoers, fellow councillors, community members, and friends, who gathered to pay tribute to his extraordinary legacy.