A WELL-respected councillor, who rubbed shoulders with royalty and top stars, before his death earlier this year is set to be honoured for his outstanding contribution to his borough.

David Harrison, former Wickford councillor, who died in March, after a long period of ill health, is set to be named an honorary alderman.

Mr Harrison served as a councillor for more than 30 years at Basildon Borough Council. The status is the highest award in English local councils, given to a former councillor who has given distinguished service to their council. Basildon Council is set to discuss and vote on the award at a meeting on September 18.

Mr Harrison was most recently a councillor for Wickford Independents for Wickford Park.

He famously welcomed star boxer Muhammad Ali to the district as Basildon Council chairman in 1986, and he was later mayor in 2017.

He then met the now Princess of Wales, Katherine Middleton, at the opening of the Action on Addiction treatment centre in Wickford.

He joined various community and charity events over the decades. He also fought for new CCTV and other improvements. He also raised impressive amounts of money for various charities in his roles. As mayor in 2018, he joined SnapFitness 24/7 to help fundraise for his chosen charities – Be Child Cancer Aware and the Polly Parrot Appeal for the children's Wards at Basildon Hospital.

Council documents ahead of the meeting state a special ceremony is set to be held for Mr Harrison if councillors agree to the status for the former councillor.

The papers state: "The title of honorary alderman is a high honour which should only be awarded in exceptional circumstances to former councillors who have rendered eminent services to the council having made an outstanding contribution to the activities of the council.

"In order to have achieved the required level of distinction, it is likely that prospective aldermen will have served at least 12 years as a councillor before being considered for appointment as an honorary alderman, unless there are exceptional reasons why an ex-councillor with fewer years' service should be considered. The years' service need not be consecutive."