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HONOURED: Jeff Stelling
TV personality Jeff Stelling could not hide his pride after being granted the Freedom of the Borough at the Civic Centre last night.
Jeff, a former Mail reporter who worked his way through the ranks to become one of the most familiar faces on the small screen, raised laughs among the audience as he told of his love for promoting his passion for Hartlepool in his role on Sky Sports' Soccer Saturday.
The Hartlepool-born dad of three still calls Hartlepool "home", despite spending the majority of his career in the south.
And the 54-year-old paid an emotional tribute to his late father Andy, who died 18 years ago, as he picked up his honour.
Jeff said: "He was Hartlepool through and through, born in the town, worked at the steelworks, a strong trade unionist and a man of strong morals."
Jeff added: "I do feel a complete fraud stood here when you consider the work done by the likes of Isobel Wilson and Wendy McLoughlin.
"I have also been down to the RNLI station during this visit speaking to people that risk their lives on a daily basis for the good of the people of the town, and they are a really deserving past recipient of this honour."
Jeff, whose mum Nora, still lives in Catcote Road, added that his wife Liz, and three children Robbie, 11, Matt, 10 and Olivia six, were all very proud of him.
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Weather for Hartlepool
Monday 13 February 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: 3 C to 9 C
Wind Speed: 21 mph
Wind direction: North west
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: 5 C to 9 C
Wind Speed: 21 mph
Wind direction: North west
