TWO Nottingham inventors have told of their pride at being made Honorary Freemen of the city.
Councillors are expected to confer the titles on Sir Peter Mansfield and Dr Stewart Adams at a full council meeting on Monday, July 8.
The honour is considered the highest the council can give and bestows a number of unusual rights, including permission to drive sheep over Trent Bridge and being able to graze cattle on "common lands".
Being allowed to take part in the government of the town's corporation is one of the more conventional rights of the title.
Sir Peter is being recognised for inventing the MRI machine and related equipment during the 1970s when he was a lecturer, reader and professor at the University of Nottingham.
Meanwhile, Dr Adams is to receive the title for his research which eventually led to the creation of ibuprofen.
Sir Peter, 70, of Beeston Fields, who was awarded the Nobel Prize in 2003 for his invention, said: "I'm very grateful that someone in the town hall in Nottingham has thought of me. I've had a number of honours over the years but I've never had anything home-based, so I regard this honour from Nottingham as being rather special.
"In all honesty, at the time I had no idea the MRI would become what it is today."
Decades before Sir Peter's MRI machine, in the 1950s, Dr Adams was working from the front room of a Victorian house on the outskirts of Nottingham.
His research discovered the first active compounds that eventually led to ibuprofen.
"When I discovered ibuprofen, I didn't realise it was going to be quite as big as it has been," said Dr Adams, 90, of Redhill.
"To be given the title Honorary Freeman is a very great honour which came out of the blue.
"I found out about six weeks ago and was just very surprised, pleased and delighted about it."
Dr Adams and Sir Peter are the 38th and 39th people to be given the honour.
Past Nottingham notables to receive it include Alan Sillitoe, Sir Paul Smith, Torvill and Dean, and Brian Clough.
City council leader Jon Collins is delighted with the latest two additions.
"Nottingham is very proud of the life-changing contributions made by Sir Peter and Dr Adams," he said.
"Our city is inspired by their contribution to medical science. I look forward to their installation as Honorary Freemen of the City and seeing their contributions recognised by Nottingham."
