WE owe John Shannon a huge debt. He has been a vigorous defender of all that is good about York, and without his leadership much of our priceless heritage would have been lost.

Mr Shannon has now been made a Freeman of the City.

This is the highest honour York can bestow.

It is entirely appropriate that the man who has done so much for this city has now been granted its freedom.

Updated: 12:27 Thursday, March 28, 2002