Through the Chamberlain’s Court, the Company of Entrepreneurs has the privilege of presenting its Freemen to the Court of Aldermen for consideration for the Freedom of the City of London. Long-delayed due to COVID-19 (and very nearly impeded further by an unexpected cancellation of a meeting of the Court of Aldermen), on 22nd March 2022, the Clerk to the Chamberlain’s Court, Mr Murray Craig, was received by the Master Entrepreneur, Mrs Judy Hadden, at Drapers’ Hall for a special sitting to admit 16 new Freemen of the City of London:

•    Freeman Paul Denley
•    Freeman Howard Freeman
•    Freeman Rishi Gohill
•    Freeman Matthew Hayes
•    Court Assistant Elizabeth Hunt
•    Freeman Simon Krystman
•    Freeman Bola Lafe
•    Freeman Johnny Manning
•    Freeman Ben Martin
•    Freeman Mark O'Neil
•    Court Assistant Andrew Pullman
•    Freeman Tony Shergill
•    Court Assistant Colin Spiller
•    Court Assistant James Talbot
•    Court Assistant Stephen Wheatley
•    Court Assistant Barnaby Wynter

 

 The Company of Entrepreneurs © Sillett Photography

Following a call to order by the Beadle, Mr Craig spoke warmly and at some length to contextualise the Freedom of the City and to regale the City’s “youngest Freemen” with tales of fame and infamy from the annals of the Chamberlain’s Court, which stretch back to the 13th Century (shortly before, Mr Craig quipped, his tenure as Clerk began). Freemen Entrepreneurs and their guests were delighted to learn that they might once have been allowed to roam the City streets with a drawn sword, or have had the right to be hanged with silken rope if convicted of treason or murder, or to have been able to drive livestock across London Bridge toll free. Of most interest, however, was the knowledge that if they were ever discovered to be drunk and disorderly within the City of London, they could rely on the City Watch to get them safely home!
 
Regrettably, the Clerk to the Chamberlain’s Court had to add a disclaimer that not all of these privileges were observed in the 21st Century, but that the Freedom did still confer obligations for both personal and professional conduct. Handily, most of these obligations were contained in a small red book “Rules for the Conduct of Life”, presented to each new Freeman.
 
The Clerk to the Chamberlain’s Court, having ensured that everyone was equipped with sanitizing hand-gel, offered the new Freemen his right hand and bade each of them welcome with “joy”. They were, he said, joining a vast and notable cadre of men and women throughout history and across the world, including (amongst a long list of very worthy recipients) the appropriately-named actor Morgan Freeman, of whom Mr Craig did a brief and very credible impersonation.

   

All too soon, Mr Craig’s turn was done, and the new Freemen of the City of London were granted permission to withdraw, and, to the popping of corks, made their way to a drinks reception and the Spring Lunch.
 
NOTES: Freemen Entrepreneurs in good standing may ask the Clerk to the Company of Entrepreneurs to authorise their application for the Freedom of the City of London. There is an administration fee of £125 (payable to the City of London). More details and an application form are available from the Entrepreneurs’ Clerk’s Office. “Good standing” behoves generous support for both the Company and the Trust.
 
Owing to the cancellation of the 8th March meeting of the Court of Aldermen, in accordance with Standing Order no.46, on 1st March 2022 the Lord Mayor (on behalf of the Court of Aldermen) was consulted by the Town Clerk about the list of applications for Freedom of the City (in the companies named). Thereafter, on 2nd March 2022 approval was granted by the Town Clerk a list of applications for Freedom of the City (in the companies named) and for the Clerk to the Chamberlain’s Court to be instructed accordingly. The Court of Aldermen was advised formally of this at its meeting on 30th March 2022. More details about that meeting can be found HERE
 
The full list of the first 22 Freemen presented by the Company is: 
Founder Freeman Chiles Cartwright, Court Assistant Sarah Davis, Freeman Paul Denley, Freeman Howard Freeman, Freeman Jenny Garrett OBE, Freeman Rishi Gohill, Freeman Tomas Halgas, Freeman Matthew Hayes, Freeman Veronica Heaven, Court Assistant Elizabeth Hunt, Freeman Simon Krystman, Freeman Bola Lafe, Freeman Johnny Manning, Freeman Ben Martin, Freeman Mark O'Neil, Court Assistant Andrew Pullman, Freeman Tony Shergill, Freeman Talan Skeels-Piggins, Court Assistant Colin Spiller, Court Assistant James Talbot, Court Assistant Stephen Wheatley, and Court Assistant Barnaby Wynter