7 January 2008
FSA Chairman Sir Callum McCarthy honoured by City of
London
Sir Callum will be admitted this evening (Monday) to the Freedom
of the City of London at a ceremony conducted by the Chamberlain of
London, Chris Bilsland, in his Court Room. The sponsors are Michael
Snyder, Chairman of the Policy and Resources Committee of the City
of London and Stuart Fraser, Deputy Chairman.
Date: Monday 7 January 2008.
Time: The Freedom will take place at
6.45pm.
Venue: The ceremony will take place in the
Chamberlain’s Court which is in the Guildhall Art Gallery, off
Gresham St, London EC2.
About the Freedom of the City: The Freedom is a
ceremony of great antiquity, was functionally significant
throughout the mediaeval era and remains an important link with
1,000-year-old City traditions of open and honest trade and good
behaviour. All current Freemen are given a copy of the "Rules for
the Conduct of Life" issued by Lord Mayor Sir John Barnard in
1737.
Freedom of the City of London currently 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.
More information on the Freedom of the City.
NB No entry for press or press
photographers
For further press information, contact: Greg Williams at the
Press Office on 020 7332 1455 or mobile 07889 167 205.