Freedom for Guildhall Women

Guildhall alumni Jodie Whitaker (Acting 2005) and Kate Royal (Opera 2003), Principal Lynne Williams and Professor Patsy Rodenburg OBE have been given the Freedom of the City of London. The award has been made to more than 100 women in commemoration of the centenary of the Representation of the People Act 1918, which gave women the right to vote.

The Freedom of the City of London was first presented in 1237, and was required for any Guild or Livery member wanting to do business or carry out a trade. In 1835 it was opened up to anyone living in, working in, or associated with the City.

People can either be nominated or apply, and the award is also given to celebrate important achievements or contributions to London life. Recipients are welcomed at a formal ceremony and offered a parchment version of The Copy of the Freedom, together with a copy of the Rules for the Conduct of Life’, dating back to the mid-18th century. At the ceremony, they declare: “I do solemnly swear that I will be good and true to our Sovereign Lady Queen Elizabeth the Second; that I will be obedient to the Mayor of this City; that I will maintain the Franchises and Customs thereof, and will keep this City harmless, in that which in me is; that I will also keep the Queen's Peace in my own person; that I will know no Gatherings nor Conspiracies made against the Queen's Peace, but I will warn the Mayor thereof, or hinder it to my power; and that all these points and articles I will well and truly keep, according to the Laws and Customs of this City, to my power."

Previous recipients have included Winston Churchill, Joan Collins, Plácido Domingo and Princess Diana, but the award also recognises wider society. The 106 recipients include women involved in areas as diverse as law, accountancy, teaching, property, social work, government and medicine, nominated by members of the Court of Common Council and colleagues in their City of London Wards.

Catherine McGuinness, Policy Chair at the City of London Corporation, said: “My colleagues shared my enthusiasm to invite women from as many walks of life as possible, and I am very encouraged that we have exceeded our target of 100 women, and that we are announcing the news ahead of International Women’s Day. I hope that our new Freemen enjoy attending their ceremonies at Guildhall and will take pride in their Freedom, which is one of our most historic and celebrated traditions.”