This time there was a completely different subject on the council meeting agenda, but it yet again resulted in a real AFC Wimbledon celebration for our very own Ivor Heller!
As we head towards eight years since our planning application was approved for the new stadium, Ivor was joined by Dons staff and supporters at Merton Civic Centre for a meeting that rubber-stamped an honour that goes back centuries – Freedom of the London Borough of Merton.
Conferring the title of Honorary Freeman of the Borough allows a local authority to recognise the lifetime achievements of an individual who has rendered eminent services to that place in their field of achievement.
Of course, at the very heart of Ivor’s list of contributions to Merton was that he played a pivotal part in helping us to achieve our long-held dream – to have our own stadium back in Wimbledon. But also mentioned highly on the night was Ivor’s important work with a group of adult people with learning difficulties at the Leyton Road Centre (previously High Path) and his fundraising for St George’s Hospital Charity.
Stephen Alambritis, former Merton Council Leader, spoke passionately on the night about why our Life Vice President deserved such recognition.
“It was a great honour of my 10 year leadership to have worked with Ivor on helping this amazing football club. Ivor was focused on one venue alone and that was to be back at Plough Lane. That came through loud and clear to me.
“Council leaders have many meetings, some better than others, but meetings with Ivor were always for a purpose: for a decision, or a confirmation – and all about getting back to Plough Lane. Ivor has stared into the eyes of former London Mayors, like Boris Johnson, has had arguments with Secretaries of State, and together we got the better of a top entrepreneur who had a beneficial interest in developing the site. When I went to see this entrepreneur he said, ‘don’t give me tall stories about AFC Wimbledon turning it into a site for football. I want 2,000 flats there and no football stadium’. But he hadn’t met Mr Ivor Heller!
“I also wanted to mention that he’s been at the heart of the community. I was at the first fundraiser for St George’s Hospital Charity with Ivor as the auctioneer and he raised £350,000. Since then, he’s helped to raise over £600,000.
“For centuries, the Freedom of Merton honour has been bestowed on many worthy recipients and I’m so pleased to be speaking in support of this fantastic recognition for Ivor - and he joins past recipients, including Dickie Guy, who is here tonight.”
Ivor’s award came two years after the same honour was bestowed upon Dickie, our Club President, who famously made national headlines when he starred for Wimbledon in the FA Cup, saving a penalty to deny then mighty Leeds United back in 1975.
In accepting the honour, Ivor said: “I’m not often lost for words – and guess what? I’m not tonight! I grew up above a shop in Green Lane, Morden. It was the hub of the community and I learned to talk to people, not to be shy, I learned all sorts of skills from living above that shop. What it taught me is that community is local. I decided that I never really wanted to do things for donations and to work with charities that have huge offices because I wanted to do stuff for local people. Most of all I wanted to do work for my football club. I started getting involved with the Club many long years ago and that accelerated when I got my printworks company in Haydons Road. I managed to do a lot of work for the Club and eventually that grew into me becoming a Vice President – I paid for that by the way!
“On that fateful day when the diabolical decision was made by this independent panel to allow Wimbledon to move we started the work to reform almost immediately. There were four of us that did a lot of the work to start with, but it spread like wildfire! People will remember the working groups that we had – we used the old Wimbledon Community Centre. We thought 20 people would turn up and we had 150 people come along to be on three working groups. Everybody wanted to do stuff. For the trials at Wimbledon Common we expected 150-200 people to turn up, but we lost count after 400 people arrived.
“The greatest honour I’ve ever had at the football club was when my friend and hero Dickie Guy agreed to become President of the Club. What a representative Dickie is for Merton and Wimbledon, in particular.
“I have to thank my wonderful family and friends – many of them are here – and my partner Lisa, who is an absolute legend, my colleagues, and everyone present tonight. Thank you very much for this honour - it’s a huge surprise - and I’m very grateful.”
Cllr Eleanor Stringer added: “Cllr Stephen Alambritis has talked a lot about the football side of things, but as councillor for the local ward where the Cherry Red Records Stadium is located I want to thank Ivor for the benefit that the Club has brought to the wider community. The Club has supported so many people through all of its charitable initiatives and most of all it has created a wonderful community of people who love being a part of it.
“It has been really great brilliant to see local families discover AFC Wimbledon and become avid fans since the return to Plough Lane. And it has been even more wonderful that long-standing fans who have followed the Club through thick and thin have been so welcoming to new supporters. I’m also so touched by Ivor’s commitment to working with people who have learning disabilities at the Leyton Road Centre – that contribution is very much appreciated. What a great honour, but what a great man!”
Cllr Jill Evans said: “There isn’t the time to talk about all the things Ivor has done, but AFC Wimbledon is rooted in its community and is in many of our hearts. I am personally delighted that my name is up on the wall at the ground. Ivor is held in very high regard by all those who have worked with him, it was 20 years of effort and vision for a fantastic result. As a person, he is hard-working, tenacious, and full of integrity. He engages with people and is so proud of the Club that he helped to form. He is someone who dared to dream and his dream was realised. To receive the Freedom of the Borough is so fitting to someone who has done so much for AFC Wimbledon and Merton – Come On You Dons!”
Freedom of the Borough has been bestowed upon worthy recipients for centuries and driving sheep through the borough was previously a right of the honour, but grazing rights are not part of the modern freeman's privileges!
Nevertheless, it’s a real honour, so a big congratulations to Ivor - from all at AFC Wimbledon.