Dame Patricia Routledge to receive Freedom of Wirral

Dame Patricia was born in Tranmere, Birkenhead

Dame Patricia Routledge is set to be given Wirral's highest accolade later this year, after councillors brought forward plans to honour the award-winning actress.

Dame Patricia, 95, was born in Tranmere, Birkenhead. She made her professional stage debut in 1952, and is best known for playing Hyacinth Bucket in the TV sitcom Keeeping Up Appearances.

Councillors unanimously approved her nomination for Freedom of the Borough at a committee meeting, with a full vote by councillors due to take place at a later date.

Councillors also agreed to give the same honour - the highest accolade a local authority can award - to YMCA Wirral, which helps homeless people in the area.

Dame Patricia is best known for playing Hyacinth Bucket in comedy series Keeping Up Appearances

The Freedom of Wirral has been given to a number of high-profile figures and organisations, from the late Paul O’Grady and Glenda Jackson MBE, to Baron Frank Field of Birkenhead and the Hillsborough 97.

In all, the accolade has been conferred 16 times.

Dame Patricia was born on 17 February 1929, and attended Mersey Park Primary School and, subsequently, Birkenhead High School, where she sang in the choir and ran the Sunday School.

She went on to study at the University of Liverpool, where she graduated with honours in English Language and Literature, before attending Bristol Old Vic Theatre School and London’s Guildhall School of Music.

She made her professional debut at the Liverpool Playhouse in 1952, in A Midsummer Night's Dream.

Her first television appearance was in 1956, in the ITV play of the week, and her first film appearance was in 1967, in To Sir with Love.

Over her career, she appeared in nine films, 66 television shows, and in 56 stage productions, winning both a Tony and an Olivier for her work in theatre.

However, she became a household name playing Hyacinth Bucket in the TV comedy Keeping Up Appearances, which aired from 1990-1995.

She was made an OBE and CBE, before being awarded Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the 2017 Queen's New Years Honours List for her services to theatre and charity.

YMCA Wirral is recognised for its support for "some of the most marginalised and vulnerable members of society"

YMCA Wirral is also expected to be similarly honoured by the local authority later this year, in recognition of the organisation’s work supporting “some of the most marginalised and vulnerable members of society, not just in Birkenhead, but across the whole of the borough”.

A council report presented to the committee said: “On the nights of the year where the weather is at its worst, YMCA Wirral opens its doors to anyone in need of a warm place to stay and feel safe and secure.

"In 2023 that meant YMCA assisting 97 local people. In addition, at Christmas time YMCA provided four days of temporary accommodation, food and gifts to those who have nowhere and no-one to share with.”