Keith Richards has been honoured with a new award which celebrates the excellence of Connecticut residents.

The English Rolling Stones legend, 81, who is from Dartford, in Kent, has owned a home in the US state since 1985.

And after his longtime residence there, Keith became the first recipient of the new Connecticut Governor’s Award of Excellence on Wednesday. 

The award recognises Connecticut residents for their creativity, pᴀssion and generosity and the guitarist received a custom-designed medallion and hearty applause from dozens who attended the ceremony at the Westport Library.

Governor Ned Lamont, a Stones fan, praised Keith for his music career and philanthropy to local organisations.

‘Well, thank you very much. And thank you Connecticut,’ Keith said before pausing briefly. ‘You kind of get lost for words with something like this around your neck. All I gotta say is, you know, I’ve been here for 40 years, and it’s been a great place for me.

Keith Richards was honoured with a new award which celebrates the excellence of Connecticut residents on Wednesday

The English Rolling Stones legend, 81, who is from Dartford, in Kent, has owned a home in the US state since 1985 (Seen in June)

Keith said he moved from New York City to the leafy, wealthy suburb of Weston about 50 miles to the northeast so his children could get some fresh air.

‘The family’s had a great life,’ he said. ‘The kids grew up great and incredibly happy about everything.’

Keith and his wife, model and actress Patti Hansen, have two adult children. He also has two children with ex-wife Anita Pallenberg. Another child with Anita, Tara, died from sudden infant death syndrome in 1976.

The Governor noted Keith’s support of local organisations that serve people with disabilities including SPHERE, an education, recreation and arts group, and The Prospector Theater, which operates a movie theatre and online popcorn business.

‘Keith Richards is an amazing member of our community, and we’re so proud that he’s here,’ he said. ‘And I’m so proud for the opportunity to give him this award in excellence.’

He added: ‘This award was created to honour those whose creativity, resourcefulness and pᴀssion have made a lasting impact on our state and beyond. Keith Richards is the epitome of these values – not only as one of the most influential musicians of all time but as a dedicated supporter of the arts, education and community causes in Connecticut.’ 

The Democratic governor also joked that Keith is one of his ‘top political advisers,’ through his music. 

He then played snippets of Stones songs including Start Me Up, saying it was an inspiration for helping small businesses, and You Can’t Always Get What You Want – his answer to state lawmakers’ requests to increase the budget, he said.

Governor Ned Lamont, a Stones fan, praised Keith for his music career and philanthropy to local organisations

‘Well, thank you very much. And thank you Connecticut,’ Keith said before pausing briefly. ‘You kind of get lost for words with something like this around your neck’

After his longtime residence there, Keith became the first recipient of the new Connecticut Governor’s Award of Excellence on Wednesday

Keith has an affinity for libraries, calling them a great and publicly owned equaliser in society – after being gifted a Westport library card.

‘When you are growing up there are two insтιтutional places that affect you most powerfully: The church, which belongs to you,’ he said. ‘The public library is the great equaliser.

‘Without our books and without knowing things, and without their special meaning – this is not movies.

‘This is not somebody drawing you images or anything. This is a book, and you have the movie in your head. And it’s very important that we keep our books unburnt.’

Keith is a founding member of the Rolling Stones, which formed in 1962 as a blues band and gained popularity with original songs including (I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction, Gimme Shelter and Sympathy for the Devil. He also has released solo recordings and ones with other artists.

The rock star’s honour comes days after he experienced another of life’s joys when he became a grandfather for the eighth time 

His daughter Alexandra welcomed a son with husband Jacques Naude and took to Instagram to share the happy news on Monday (Alexandra and Keith pictured 2011)

The rock star’s honour comes days after he experienced another of life’s joys when he became a grandfather for the eighth time. 

His daughter Alexandra welcomed a son with husband Jacques Naude and took to Instagram to share the happy news on Monday. 

The Vogue model, 38, who already shares four-year-old daughter Arlowe with the film director, posted a slew of snaps from the delivery room as well as a racy image of herself heavily pregnant and topless beneath a fur coat.  

She revealed they’d named the newborn Elvis Nova Naude in tribute to Elvis Presley, whom Keith has said inspired him to start recording music.