14 December 2009
Sir Terry Wogan, Freeman of the City of London, brings London’s
traffic to a standstill
Sir Terry Wogan raised Tower Bridge and received the Freedom of
the City of London today (Monday 14 December) to mark his final
week as the presenter of Wake Up to Wogan, on BBC Radio
2.
Sir Terry was invited by the City of London Corporation, which
owns Tower Bridge, to raise the two 1100-tonne bascules this
morning at 11.15am to allow the Thames Sailing Barge, S.B.
Will, to pass underneath the Bridge and along the river
Thames.
During the bridge lift, Sir Terry made a series of announcements
over the Bridge’s tannoy system to warn road traffic, pedestrians
and technical staff about its imminent closure and reopening.
After the bridge lift, he and his guests were driven to Mansion
House, where Sir Terry was given the Freedom of the City of London
by Chris Bilsland, the Chamberlain of London. His two sponsors were
Lord Mayor Nick Anstee and Stuart Fraser, City of London Policy
Chairman. Afterwards, the Lord Mayor and the Chamberlain hosted a
private lunch at Mansion House for Sir Terry and his guests.
Speaking before his Freedom ceremony, Sir Terry Wogan said:
"For years, I've been hoping to drive a herd of sheep over
London Bridge. Or failing that, swinging from the Tower on a silken
rope.”
Nick Anstee, Lord Mayor of the City of London, said: “I am
delighted to nominate Sir Terry for the Freedom of the City of
London to help celebrate his outstanding work, whether it’s
entertaining millions of people on ‘Wake Up to Wogan’ or raising
millions of pounds for ‘Children in Need’.
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 and enabled recipients to carry out their trade.
Today, people are nominated for, or apply for, the Freedom, because
it offers them a link to the historic City of London and one of its
ancient traditions.
Many of the traditional privileges associated with the Freedom,
including driving sheep over London Bridge and being drunk and
disorderly in the City without fear of arrest, no longer exist.
Ends
Notes to editors
- Press enquiries: Andrew Buckingham, Press
Officer, City of London Corporation
Tel 020 7332 1452 / Mobile 07795 333 060
Email
andrew.buckingham@cityoflondon.gov.uk
- About the City of London Corporation :
The City of London Corporation is a uniquely diverse organisation.
It supports and promotes the City as the world leader in
international finance and business services and provides local
services and policing for those working in, living in and visiting
the Square Mile. It also provides valued services to London and the
nation. These include the Barbican Centre and the Guildhall School
of Music & Drama; the Guildhall Library and Art Gallery and
London Metropolitan Archive; a range of education provision
(including three City Academies); five Thames bridges (including
Tower Bridge and the Millennium Bridge); the Central Criminal Court
at Old Bailey; over 10,000 acres of open spaces (including
Hampstead Heath and Epping Forest), and three wholesale food
markets. It is also London’s Port Health Authority and runs the
Animal Reception Centre at Heathrow. It works in partnership with
neighbouring boroughs on the regeneration of surrounding areas and
the City Bridge Trust, which it oversees, donates more than £15m to
charity annually.