Freedom of the Town awarded to Mrs Jackie Westbrook for exceptional and sustained voluntary service to the community.
Gillingham Town Council announced it has awarded the honorary title of Freedom of the Town of Gillingham, the highest civic honour the Town Council can bestow to Jackie Westbrook. For more than 37 years, Jackie has been at the heart of community life in Gillingham, contributing selflessly across a wide range of organisations and events.
She began volunteering at Gillingham Primary School in 1989, dedicating six years to supporting children with reading, assisting with arts and crafts activities, and helping in the school library. In 1991, she began volunteering with Gillingham Scout Group, and on 23 June 1995 she became Leader of the Sioux Beaver Colony - a role she continues to hold today. Jackie also played a significant role in fundraising for the Scout and Community Hall at Milton-on-Stour, helping to secure grants and organise events to support the development of what is now an important community facility.
Beyond Scouting, Jackie has supported the Gillingham and Shaftesbury Show since 2009, volunteered for many years at Gillingham Festival, and has been involved in Gillingham Carnival for over 25 years. She has stewarded events with Dorset Marshals for more than twenty years, volunteered at Gillingham Day Club for eight years, and given her time to several local charity shops, including Scope, Brainwave and Weldmar Hospice Charity Shop, where she has volunteered since 2019.
Widely known throughout the town as “Red Bear”, Jackie has provided steadfast leadership and encouragement to generations of young people, instilling values of teamwork, responsibility, resilience and respect. Her dedication to planning activities, organising trips and camps, and creating opportunities for young people to engage with civic leaders has made a lasting difference both to individuals and to the wider community. Generations of residents have benefited from Jackie’s dedication, enthusiasm and unwavering commitment to serving others. The Freedom of the Town recognises not only the length of her service, but also the profound and continuing impact she has made on the life of Gillingham
At a meeting held on 26 January 2026, councillors unanimously agreed to confer the award in recognition of Jackie’s exceptional and sustained voluntary service to the community. Gillingham Town Council extends its warmest congratulations and sincere thanks to Jackie for her remarkable contribution to the town.
Photos: Jackie Westbrook receives her award from Gillingham Mayor, Cllr Fiona Cullen, witnessed by members of the Sioux Beaver Colony, Thursday 26 February 2026, copyright Gillingham Town Council.
