Congratulations to David Walker (SHR, 75-82) who was admitted to the Freedom of the City of London on 19th January this year. Admission is open to those who live and work within the square mile and are part of the electoral role. David currently lives in Bridge Ward in the City and is the Programme Director for the Enterprise Data Platform at Worldpay
The admission is one of the two oldest ceremonies in the UK, first recorded in 1237, the other being the crowning
of the monarch). A Freeman was an essential right in the middle ages for anyone who wanted to trade or work in the city and is part of the origin of the guilds of London.
Today the Freedom has little material value although by tradition you are allowed to drive sheep and other livestock across London Bridge into the City, to be hung by a silken rope in the colour of the Freeman’s choice rather than with a common hemp rope and to be escorted home by a Constable of the City of London Police if found drunk within the city walls.
Pictured are (L-R) David’s mothers Sheila, his wife Helen, daughter Venexia (a PhD student at Bristol) and son Alex
(a MSc student at Plymouth). David is hoping to drive sheep across London Bridge on 30th September this year
(https://sheepdrive.london) but shouldn’t need to return to school to get them as they are provided by the Woolmen’s
Guild