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| Veteran 'escapee' Bernard Jordan honoured by Brighton | Veteran 'escapee' Bernard Jordan honoured by Brighton |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A World War Two veteran who disappeared from his nursing home to attend D-Day commemorations in France has been made an honorary alderman of Brighton and Hove. | |
| Bernard Jordan, a former mayor of Hove, was honoured during a special meeting at Brighton Town Hall. | |
| The 90-year-old sparked a police search last month when he left the care home unannounced to join fellow veterans. | |
| He was called "a living legend" by the current mayor at the ceremony. | |
| 'Wisdom and warmth' | |
| Brian Fitch said Mr Jordan's "recent exploits delighted the media, entertained the general public, worried his friends at The Pines and completely bemused his family." | |
| "It's his mix of self-effacing bravery and humour, wisdom and warmth, experience and perspective that prompted me to nominate Bernie as honorary alderman," Mr Fitch added. | |
| Mr Jordan, who lives at The Pines care home in Hove with his wife, disappeared the day before commemorations were due to take place. | Mr Jordan, who lives at The Pines care home in Hove with his wife, disappeared the day before commemorations were due to take place. |
| Staff at his nursing home had tried to get him on to an accredited tour to Normandy with the Royal British Legion but it had not been possible to arrange. | Staff at his nursing home had tried to get him on to an accredited tour to Normandy with the Royal British Legion but it had not been possible to arrange. |
| Undeterred, the former navy officer decided he would go there anyway, sparking a police alert and throwing him into the media spotlight. | |
| At the time, he told ITV News he would do the same thing again. | At the time, he told ITV News he would do the same thing again. |
| "I have been here last year and I have been here obviously this time... but if I am still about I shall try next year's as well," he said. | "I have been here last year and I have been here obviously this time... but if I am still about I shall try next year's as well," he said. |
| Brighton and Hove City Council said the honour was in "recognition of eminent past services" to Hove Borough Council. | |
| Mr Jordan was a member of the council for 23 years and served as mayor from 1995 to 1996. |