Inverness-born businesswoman receives incredibly rare Freedom of the City of London award
AN INVERNESS-BORN woman's efforts in the shoe industry and the wider community have been recognised with a prestigious award.
Sharon Reason (53) has been presented with the Honorary Freedom of the City of London award – a rare recognition of lifetime achievement or high international standing which is usually granted to royalty, heads of state or other figures of global standing.
She was also admitted to the the Worshipful Company of Patternmakers – an ancient London trade association – after colleagues put her name forward for the honour.
The businesswoman, who now lives in Leicestershire, started working in the shoe industry at the age of 15 and has run companies in Thailand as well as working in China for six years as head of sales for an international company.
Her involvement with Footwear Friends, a charity which supports people who have worked in the industry and are facing hardship, was one among many reasons she was nominated for the award.
A football enthusiast and player, Sharon is also the founder of Asfordby Amateurs Ladies, Girls and Inclusive Football Club, which started with just five players but is now 230-strong.
"She has always been an achiever," said her father, Munro MacLeod, who lives in North Kessock.
"Sharon has done pretty well considering where she came from. Getting the Freedom of London, an honour that was given to Florence Nightingale and Horatio Nelson before, is quite an achievement.
"This is in recognition of what she has done for the shoe trade. Coming from South Kessock – which back then had a bad reputation – and getting where she is, is a testament to her hard work and proves that if you work hard you can go on in the world no matter where you come from."
Unfortunately, Mr MacLeod was not able to attend the ceremony on March 3 after his flight was cancelled.
The family moved to England when Sharon was four, however she has continued to return to Scotland and the Highlands through they years.
Of the award ceremony she said: "It felt very overwhelming.
"Not very often I am stuck for words, but we had a fantastic day!
"I was very much surprised when I was told I received it, because there's some quite famous people who've been able to do that.
"The hard work has paid off. I have always been a bit of a workaholic but it's nice when this gets recognised."
Sharon is planning to head north again in October, when she will take part in the Loch Ness Marathon.
