A DEDICATED servant of Carterton has been awarded the freedom of the town.

Dee Bulley, a former town and county councillor and ex-Mayor, was presented with a freedom scroll by deputy lieutenant, brigadier Dennis Blease, at a reception at the town hall on Thursday.

The honorary title was awarded for her 'long service as a pillar of the community'.

It comes after she was awarded Carterton Town Council’s exceptional citizen award in 2008 due to her 'substantial contribution to public life in the town over a period of 30 years'.

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Carterton mayor, Martin McBride, said: "Dee has put tremendous effort into promoting Carterton and building strong, lasting links within and outside the community."

Mrs Bulley and her husband Mike settled in Carterton almost 50 years ago and she was first elected as a town councillor soon after.

As well as serving as a town councillor for several decades, the Carterton resident was mayor from 1983 to 1985 and 1990 to 1993.

Several initiatives spearheaded by Mrs Bulley continue today, including the town's St George's Day Celebration.

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She was also instrumental in forging a strong link with RAF Brize Norton, which eventually led to the air base being granted the freedom of the town in April 2016.

Along with her council duties, which included 20 years on Oxfordshire County Council, Mrs Bulley was a key member and musical director of the Carterton Songsters.

The group raised more than £30,000 through several performances over the years.

As a member of the Royal British Legion (RBL), marking Remembrance Sunday was also an important event in Mrs Bulley's calendar.

Along with her husband, she ordered wreaths, distributed collection boxes and counted donations until 2017.