Paralympic hero Nigel Murray now a freeman of Whitnash

Mr Murray, a world class boccia player who won gold medals at the Paralympic Games in Sydney and Beijing and won a team bronze at his final games in London this year, was awarded The Freedom of the Town at a council meeting last night (Thursday).

He is only the third recipient of the honorary award in the last 30 years.

Mr Murray, who is also a former world champion, said: “As a person who was born and bred in the area and has lived in Whitnash for 13 years it is such a great honour to be recognised in this way.

“It is an award which is given very rarely and it didn’t take me a moment to accept it when I was first told.

“I know being given The Freedom of Whitnash can refer to you being able to drive sheep through the town but this doesn’t come with anything like that.

“It is an acknowledgement by the townspeople of what I have managed to achieve with my disability and through representing my country and Whitnash as a Paralympian.”

Having taken a break from training after the London games Mr Murray has been visiting schools and working as an ambassador for the event’s sponsor Sainsbury’s.

He said there is a strong chance he will take part in the European Championships in June but whether he remains as a member of the GB squad to share his experience with up and coming players before the 2016 games in Rio will not be decided until the new year.