6 February 2007
Derry Mayor honoured by City of London
The Mayor of Derry, Councillor Helen Quigley has today, Tuesday
6 February, received the Freedom of the City of London at a
ceremony in London. She received her nomination from the Rt Hon The
Lord Mayor of the City of London, Alderman John Stuttard, and
Alderman Sir Gavyn Arthur, Governor of the Irish Society.
Speaking after the event in London, the Mayor Cllr Quigley said;
“I am deeply honoured to receive the Freedom of the City of London
as for me it signifies the strong historic, economic and cultural
links that exist between our two cities. I am committed to
strengthening this relationship and to seeking continued
co-operation on our common interests”.
The Mayor is visiting the City as part of a delegation to
explore the opportunity for deepening the links between Derry and
London in the areas of heritage, arts and culture, sports
development, business and trade. She was accompanied by
representatives of Derry City Council, the Londonderry Chamber of
Commerce, Ilex Urban Regeneration Company, the University of
Ulster, the Department of Social Development and the Northern
Ireland Judo Federation.
About the Freedom of the City:
The Freedom is a ceremony of great antiquity and was significant
throughout the mediaeval era. Following a declaration and signing
of the Declaration Book, the Mayor receives a document of sheepskin
parchment called ‘copy of Freedom’ along with a book entitled
‘Rules for the Conduct of Life”. The ceremony concludes with her
receiving the new freeman ‘the right hand of fellowship’ and being
greeted as ‘a Citizen of London’.
The Freedom of the City of London gives two benefits to the
recipient. If a Freeman's children are orphaned they may be
educated at The Freeman’s School at Ashtead in Surrey, at no cost
to the family. Or if in old age a recipient is destitute they may
qualify for housing in the Alms houses.
Many of the traditional privileges associated with the Freedom,
such as driving sheep across London Bridge, to be hung with a
silken cord if convicted of a capital offence, to go about the City
with a drawn sword, to be married in St Paul's Cathedral, to be
buried in the City and to be drunk and disorderly without fear of
arrest, have long since disappeared.
About the delegation from Derry to
London:
The themes of the visit to London included heritage, arts and
culture, sports development and developing business and trade
links.
Heritage - The delegation will visit the
Metropolitan Archives at the invite of the Honourable Irish Society
to explore how access to the archive could be reflected to enhance
heritage provision for the city.
Arts and Culture - The Council and Ilex are
keen to examine the regeneration potential for arts and culture in
the region and will visit a number of venues including the Tate
Modern Museum, Jerwood Space and the Whitechapel Art Gallery. The
delegation will seek to develop a better understanding of the
current arts position in providing a regional cultural offering and
also consider community based cultural initiatives.
Sports development - The delegation will also
visit a judo centre to get an understanding of the requirements in
relation to Council’s aspirations for St Columb’s Park as a
regional judo centre of excellence.
Business and trade links - During the trip, the
delegation will meet with representatives from Invest NI and local
economic developers with a view to enhancing relations and
exploring investment opportunities.
For information regarding the Freedom of the City please contact
Michelle Poole - City of London on 020 7332 3450
For information regarding the delegation to London please
contact Adele McCourt - Derry City Council on 028
71376504