LONG-SERVING community bastion Monsignor Canon Richard Twomey was granted the freedom of the Swindon borough at a special ceremony last night.

Monsignor Twomey, who has been a Catholic priest in Swindon for 42 years, was granted the honorary title of freeman by Swindon Council ahead of his retirement in September.

He has been the parish priest at Holy Rood Church, in Groundwell Road, for 27 years, having previously served 15 years as assistant priest.

The 75-year-old has also been heavily involved in Catholic education in Swindon and became Monsignor in 1997 when he was appointed a Prelate of Honour by Pope John Paul II for his work in this field.

Yesterday, his friends, family, colleagues, and supporters attended the Civic Offices, in Euclid Street, to see him presented with a special scroll and badge by Swindon mayor Ray Ballman.

The honour was presented ‘as a token of the high esteem in which he is held by the townspeople of the borough and in recognition of his eminent services to the community’.

Monsignor Twomey said: “It is a mighty big honour.

“I think it’s marvellous, absolutely incredible from my point of view.

“I know I have been here 42 years, quite involved in the community in many ways.

“But it’s still quite a big honour for me for the council to invite me to become a freeman of the borough.”

Monsignor Twomey said he would retire to a home in Rushey Platt in September, but will still help out in the diocese with religious duties, such as saying masses.

“I will be 76 and I have been 50 years in the ministry so I think it’s time for me to take a rest,” he said.

“I have been here 42 years and it’s been an incredible time and I have enjoyed every moment of it.”

Monsignor Twomey was chairman of governors at St Joseph’s Catholic College for 25 years and has been chairman of governors at Holy Rood Junior School for more than 25 years.

Peter Wells, former headteacher at St Joseph’s, said he deserved the honour.

“He was a fantastic chairman of governors for me, always supporting me at every turn” he said.

“We had lots of ups and downs. We built a brand new school together, we went grant-maintained together, we pushed the school forward to the standard it is today.”

Fr John Reville, the parish priest at Sacred Heart Church, at Royal Wootton Bassett, who is also the dean of Swindon, said: “It’s well-deserved.

“He has been a most dedicated servant of this town for many, many years, not just the Catholic community but the town.”

Council leader Rod Bluh said he was delighted Monsignor Twomey had been put forward for this honour.

“It is the very least he deserves for all the time he has spent helping our community,” he said.

“Monsignor has been a pillar of Swindon’s Catholic community for many years and is widely respected across the whole town.”