Finding Freedom

Margaret Thatcher, King Charles III, Sir Michael Caine, Florence Nightingale, Sir Winston Churchill, Ian Wright, Princess Diana, Nelson Mandela…and me. If it’s not immediately obvious what these people all have in common, then let me explain – we’re all Freemen of the City of London.

On 13 June I joined a group of my fellow communicators - all members of the Company of Communicators city livery company - at the Guildhall in London, where we were admitted as the ‘youngest’ Freemen of the City of London.

In a ceremony packed full of history, we learned that Freemen have been in existence since the 9th Century, and that entry has always been open to people of any nationality, with women always welcomed. Ironically, I was the only woman among yesterday’s group.

The Freeman and London

Freemen were, and in the main, still are, members of the Livery Companies of the City of London, which originated from the medieval trade guilds regulating and supervising the training of apprentices – central to development of London as a global economic power. They also controlled standards of craftsmanship and provided protection from unfair competition, as well as providing financial support to their members in old age and in times of hardship. Today’s Livery companies are major philanthropists, donating over ￡40million a year to charity, and all Freemen are expected to play their part in fundraising.

Until the Nineteenth Century, being able to trade or practice your craft in the City was only possible with Freedom of the City of London. The Freemen had rights and privileges not enjoyed by the masses, such as having ownership of the hair on one’s head (whereas lowly citizens could be forced to shave it off for sale).

My Freedom

For me, becoming a Freeman represents my long working career in London, from starting out as a cub reporter in Walthamstow, to advising government ministers in Whitehall departments, and managing communications for FTSE-listed companies. It also reflects my love of the city and its traditions, its history and its position as a global centre of trade, culture and innovation.?

Rules for the conduct of life

Along with a declaration of Freedom, hand drawn on sheepskin parchment, the new Freemen receive a small red book: ‘Rules For The Conduct of Life (To which are added a few cautions for the use of such Freeman of London as take apprentices)’.? Originally published in 1740 as a set of standards for Freemen, the book opens thus with Rule 1: ?

“Whatever you at any time intend to do, consider the end which you therein propose to yourself, and be sure that it be always really good, or at least innocent”.

For my part I shall try to uphold the former, should the latter prove too much of a challenge.

Many thanks to my good friend, and past Master of the Company of Communicators, Sarah Wait-Sillett for being my guest at the ceremony.

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