Results 1 to 14 of 14

Thread: The Freedom of Liverpool

  1. #1
    Senior Member ChrisGeorge's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2006
    Location
    Baltimore, Maryland, USA
    Posts
    3,590

    Default The Freedom of Liverpool

    Hi all

    Many famous Scousers mentioned in this section of the website have been given the Freedom of the City of Liverpool which is also awarded to non-Scousers as well.

    But what is the history of the tradition? When did it begin? A friend on another forum asked about it, and I give his email and my reply below. You will see that I somehow doubt that the explanation for the act of conferring the Freedom of Liverpool given today was the same as it was when the tradition began.

    Chris

    *******************

    Does anyone know of a website that explains the Freedom of Liverpool honor is detail. I've searched and only find releases announcing additions to the Rolls.

    Thanks.

    Gary

    *******************

    Hi Gary

    Here's some piece of information that might help you in your enquiry about the award of Freedom of the City of Liverpool.

    The Lord Mayor of Liverpool, Councillor Ron Gould, said: "The Freedom of Liverpool is awarded to people who show courage, strength, kindness, and who dedicate their lives to making a real difference to the lives of others.

    From "Freedom of Liverpool delivered to New York" August 28, 2003 at http://www.liverpool.gov.uk/News/newsdetail_0436.asp

    That explanation sounds a bit too latterday and there is probably an earlier meaning. Will continue to research and check some books I have on Liverpool history.

    Also found this:

    "Oldest and Youngest awarded Freedom of the City" July 5, 2007, athttp://www.liverpool.gov.uk/News/newsdetail_1724.asp

    ONE of Liverpool's oldest, and the youngest services are to be granted the city's top honour.

    The Merseyside branch of St. John Ambulance, founded in September 1877, and the Duke of Lancaster's Regiment which was formed just days ago on Saturday 1 July 2006, will be honoured by Liverpool City Council at an Extraordinary meeting next week (Wednesday 12 July). . . .

    Council leader Warren Bradley said: "All my colleagues and I at the City Council are delighted to add both groups to the prestigious list of Liverpool organisations, and individuals, which are leaders in their field.

    "I am immensely proud of the services they give to Merseyside, and indeed this country, and it is fitting that they are added to the Freedom Roll, which is the highest honour the city can bestow on an association or institution."
    Christopher T. George
    Editor, Ripperologist
    Editor, Loch Raven Review
    http://christophertgeorge.blogspot.com/
    Chris on Flickr and on MySpace

  2. #2
    Creator & Administrator Kev's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2005
    Location
    Under The Stairs >> Under The Mud.
    Posts
    7,488
    Blog Entries
    4

    Default

    Thanks Chris, now we need a list of those who have this honor.
    Become A Supporter 👇


    Donate Via PayPal


    Donate


  3. #3
    Senior Member ChrisGeorge's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2006
    Location
    Baltimore, Maryland, USA
    Posts
    3,590

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Kev View Post
    Thanks Chris, now we need a list of those who have this honor.
    Hi Kev

    Possibly the Council could provide such a list and maybe also a history of the origins of the tradition. I assume they may have emulated another city in instituting it.

    Here's something else I found, so maybe the giving of the Freedom of the City of Liverpool began in 1900:

    "Around 50 people have been granted the Freedom of Liverpool at the Town Hall since 1900, including Nelson Mandela, the Beatles, Ken Dodd and Simon Weston, as well as Liverpool poets Roger McGough, Brian Patten and Adrian Henri."

    From "Be treated like royalty in special Town Hall visit!", Council press release, 1 August, 2003.

    Chris
    Christopher T. George
    Editor, Ripperologist
    Editor, Loch Raven Review
    http://christophertgeorge.blogspot.com/
    Chris on Flickr and on MySpace

  4. #4
    Senior Member ChrisGeorge's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2006
    Location
    Baltimore, Maryland, USA
    Posts
    3,590

    Default

    Also just found this:

    "Freedom of the City is an award made by some municipalities in the United Kingdom, Australia, Ireland, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa, the United States and Italy to esteemed members of its community; such people may then be termed Freemen or Freewomen of the City. Key to the City is a similar award made in several other countries, and is more prevalent in the United States."

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freedom_of_the_City

    They give a list of cities that give the Freedom of the City and who they gave it to. . . . Liverpool isn't on it!!!! I will fix that shortly.

    Chris
    Christopher T. George
    Editor, Ripperologist
    Editor, Loch Raven Review
    http://christophertgeorge.blogspot.com/
    Chris on Flickr and on MySpace

  5. #5
    Senior Member ChrisGeorge's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2006
    Location
    Baltimore, Maryland, USA
    Posts
    3,590

    Default

    I've decided that the Council's 2003 press release talking about fifty people getting the Freedom of the City since 1900 may actually mean that it may have begun before that year -- maybe the Council can clarify that for us. It appears, going by the Wiki site, that London was the first city to begin to confer the honour of Freedom of the City and that was way back in 1237!!!

    Chris
    Christopher T. George
    Editor, Ripperologist
    Editor, Loch Raven Review
    http://christophertgeorge.blogspot.com/
    Chris on Flickr and on MySpace

  6. #6
    Senior Member julieoapw's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2007
    Posts
    281

    Default

    Not much use to you Chris I know, but all those who have won the "Freedom of the City" are listed around the entrance of the Town Hall on plaques. Town Hall is open to the public for tours until 17th August.

    Amongst those given the honour are the 4 Beatles, Paisley (not Shankley), Bessie Braddock (the only woman - Margaret Simey declined), Ken Dodd, Rex Makin, Nelson Mandela, General Kitchener (I think), and many more I can't remember off-hand. There's also a seperate plaque for those who got group "Freedoms" - Granada (!), the 2 football teams, the New York Firemen and so on.
    Last edited by julieoapw; 08-12-2007 at 12:21 AM.

  7. #7
    Senior Member julieoapw's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2007
    Posts
    281

    Default

    Also forgot to say that popular legend says if you are a freeman you can use the ferries free of charge and drive a flock of sheep down Dale St. May be a myth though.
    Julie

  8. #8
    Senior Member julieoapw's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2007
    Posts
    281

    Default

    Just found this at http://www.civichalls.liverpool.gov....emen/index.asp
    One mistake - in the Town Hall, Lennon is listed without his MBE as he sent it back.
    Julie


    Freemen of the City
    7th July 1886 Lieutenant General Sir Andrew Clarke GCMB CB CIE
    9th November 1889 Sir Andrew Barclay Walker BT DL
    7th January 1891 William Cliff Esq JP
    3rd June 1891 William Rathbone Esq MP JP DL
    3rd June 1891 Henry Tate JP
    5th October 1892 The Rt. Hon William Ewart Gladstone MP JP DL
    14th February 1894 Samuel Greg Rathbone Esq JP
    27th October 1897 Alderman Thomas Hughes JP
    17th January 1900 John Brancker Esq JP
    24th April 1901 Ben Wolfe Levy Esq
    24th April 1901 Henry Yates Thompson Esq
    24th April 1901 Field Marshal Frederick Sleigh Earl Roberts VC KG KP GCB GCI GCIE
    4th June 1902 Alderman Sir William Bower Forwood JP DL
    6th August 1902 General Viscount Kitchener GCB OM GCMG
    3rd February 1904 The Rt. Hon. Frederick Arthur Earl of Derby KG
    3rd February 1904 Robert Durning Holt Esq DL JP
    3rd August 1911 Andrew Carnegie Esq LLD
    3rd August 1911 Robert Gladstone Esq LLD
    3rd July 1912 The Rt. Hon. Edward George Villiers 17th Earl of Derby GCVO CB
    29th March 1916 The Rt. Hon. William Morris Hughes
    6th September 1916 Alderman Sir William Benjamin Bowring BT DL
    6th June 1917 Alderman Sir Charles Petrie JP
    4th December 1918 Admiral Sir David Beatty GCB GCVO DSO
    4th December 1918 Field Marshal Sir Douglas Haig KT GCB OM GCVO KCIE
    7th December 1921 John Rankin Esq LLD
    2nd September 1925 The Rt. Hon. Sir Archibald Tutton Salvadge PC KBE
    24th September 1934 Alderman Sir Thomas White JP
    24th September 1934 Alderman Sir James Sexton CBE JP
    24th September 1934 Councillor Sir Frederick Charles Bowring DL JP
    1st May 1946 The Rt. Hon. Lord Woolton PC CH DL
    1st May 1946 Admiral Sir Max Kennedy Horton GCB DSO
    1st May 1946 Alderman Alfred Earnest Shennan JP MA
    1st May 1946 Alderman Sir Charles Sydney Jones JP MA LLD
    30th April 1970 The Rt. Hon. Lord Cohen of Birkenhead MD FROP LOND FRCS ENG DL
    30th April 1970 Major Sir Arthur Harold Bibby BT DSO
    30th April 1970 Alderman Sir Joseph Jackson Cleary
    30th April 1970 Sir Alan Cecil Tod CBE TD
    30th April 1970 Mrs Elizabeth Margaret Braddock MP
    30th April 1970 John Moores Esq
    23rd November 1983 Robert Paisley Esq OBE
    7th March 1984 John Lennon MBE
    7th March 1984 George Harrison MBE
    7th March 1984 Paul McCartney MBE
    7th March 1984 Richard Starkey MBE
    27th March 1991 Eric Heffer MP
    16th March 1994 John Moores Esq CBE DL
    6th July 1994 President Mandela
    24th August 1994 David Sheppard the Rt. Reverend the Lord Bishop of Liverpool
    24th August 1994 Derek Worlock the Most Reverend the Archbishop of Liverpool
    24th August 1994 Roy Castle OBE
    31st January 2001 Ken Dodd OBE
    31st January 2001 Adrian Henri
    31st January 2001 Roger McGough
    31st January 2001 Brian Patten
    31st January 2001 Sir Terry Leahy
    31st January 2001 Simon Weston OBE
    11th June 2003 Professor Rex Makin

  9. #9
    Senior Member ChrisGeorge's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2006
    Location
    Baltimore, Maryland, USA
    Posts
    3,590

    Default

    Hello, Julie

    Wonderful, detailed information. Many thanks, Julie!

    Chris
    Christopher T. George
    Editor, Ripperologist
    Editor, Loch Raven Review
    http://christophertgeorge.blogspot.com/
    Chris on Flickr and on MySpace

  10. #10
    Senior Member ChrisGeorge's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2006
    Location
    Baltimore, Maryland, USA
    Posts
    3,590

    Default

    Hi Folks

    I am pleased to say that I have now added to the Wiki page on "Freedom of the City" recent well known recipients of the Freedom of the City of Liverpool.

    Chris
    Christopher T. George
    Editor, Ripperologist
    Editor, Loch Raven Review
    http://christophertgeorge.blogspot.com/
    Chris on Flickr and on MySpace

  11. #11
    Creator & Administrator Kev's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2005
    Location
    Under The Stairs >> Under The Mud.
    Posts
    7,488
    Blog Entries
    4

    Default

    Excellent Chris and Julieoapw
    Become A Supporter 👇


    Donate Via PayPal


    Donate


  12. #12
    Senior Member julieoapw's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2007
    Posts
    281

    Default

    You're welcome
    Julie

  13. #13
    chippie
    Guest chippie's Avatar

    Post

    Jules, your a star

  14. #14
    Senior Member julieoapw's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2007
    Posts
    281

    Default

    True!


Tags for this Thread

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •