5 September 2007
Lord Provost of Glasgow to receive Freedom of City of
London
The Rt Hon the Lord Provost of Glasgow, Cllr Bob Winter, will
receive the Freedom of the City of London in a ceremony at the
historic Guildhall, London EC2 on Monday 10 September 2007. The
Lord Provost was nominated by the Lord Mayor of the City of London,
John Stuttard, and Sheriff David Lewis.
One of the oldest surviving traditional ceremonies still in
existence today, the Freedom of the City of London is believed to
have begun in 1237. Traditionally, it gave the recipients the
freedom to earn money and own land – usually only bestowed to
feudal lords. Today it is not an award but links recipients to
London’s City as they pledge to “keep this city harmless”.
Cllr Winter was appointed as the 214th Lord Provost of Glasgow
in May 2007 and will serve four years as Scotland’s most senior
civic leader. Originally from Maryhill in Glasgow, Cllr Winter is a
former social worker and has served on Glasgow City Council since
1996. He met the Lord Mayor during an official visit to Glasgow in
June this year.
Lord Provost Winter said: “I am honoured to receive the Freedom
of the City of London which for me signifies the strong historic,
economic and cultural links that exist between the two cities.
Glasgow is now one of the key financial services centres in the UK
and it is strengthening its position nationally and
internationally. We will continue to work closely with the City of
London in this and other areas of shared interest.”
Lord Mayor Stuttard said: “I was delighted to meet with the Lord
Provost back in June and to nominate him for Freedom of the City.
Glasgow is a vital part of “The City” and I look forward to see it
going from strength to strength.”
The Lord Provost will be accompanied by the Lady Provost, Sheena
Winter, the Lord Dean of Guild, John Chapman and the Deacon
Convenor, Malcolm Wishart.
He will be given the Freedom by Chris Bilsland, Chamberlain of the
City of London.
Ends
Notes to editors
Monday 10 September
12.00pm – Private Freedom ceremony at Chamberlain’s Court, next
to Guildhall Art Gallery, Guildhall Yard, off Gresham St, London
EC2.
12.20pm – Short photo opportunity following ceremony with Lord
Provost, Lord Mayor and Sheriff Richard Regan (deputising for
Sheriff Richard Lewis). Venue – Guildhall Yard, off Gresham Street,
London EC2.
*If you wish to attend the photocall, please call City of London
Press Office on 020 7332 1754.
About the Freedom
The Freedom of the City of London is a ceremony of great
antiquity and was significant throughout the mediaeval era.
Following a declaration and signing of the Declaration Book, the
Lord Provost will receive a document of sheepskin parchment called
‘copy of Freedom’ along with a book entitled ‘Rules for the Conduct
of Life”. The ceremony concludes with him receiving the new
freeman ‘the right hand of fellowship’ and being greeted as ‘a
Citizen of London’.
The Freedom 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.
Others who have received the Freedom include Alan Greenspan,
Chairman of the Federal Reserve; Mervyn King, Governor of the Bank
of England; Christopher Gibson-Smith, Chairman of the London Stock
Exchange and Jean-Francois Theodore, Chief Executive of
Euronext.
About the City of London
The City of London provides local government services for the
Square Mile, the financial and commercial heart of Britain, and is
committed to maintaining and enhancing the status of the business
City as the world's leading international financial and business
centre through its policies and services. Its responsibilities also
extend far beyond the City boundaries and include management of the
Barbican Centre, Central Criminal Court at the Old Bailey, 10,000
acres of open space including Hampstead Heath and Epping Forest,
three wholesale food markets, as well as acting as the London Port
Health Authority.