Arthur Lockyear who has been appointed press officer to the Freemen of Durham City served for 30 years an operational fire fighter with Tyne and Wear Fire & Rescue Service, and is the author of the book ‘Warriors in Fire Boots’ a tribute to the valour of fire fighters.
He is chairman of the organizing group of the Durham City Remembrance parade, an event supported each year by the Freemen of the City, and which is now one of the most prestigious events of its kind in the north of England.
Arthur was well known nationally as a senior teacher of Aikido and a writer on the subject of Japanese martial arts generally, and over the years brought many distinguished overseas masters to Durham to teach seminars.
In 2010 he was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE), has been in receipt of a High Sheriff’s commendation, and was made citizen of the year by Durham City Parish Council in 2020, all of which was in recognition of his voluntary work for Remembrance.
He was made a Freeman of the city in 2020 and is deputy warden of the plumbers’ guild.