Plymouth, Honorary Freemen of the City of Plymouth

PLYMOUTH
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The Encyclopaedia of Plymouth History

HONORARY FREEMEN OF THE CITY OF PLYMOUTH

Until the passing of the Municipal Reform Act of 1835 a Freeman of the Borough of Plymouth was a privileged person who performed important functions in the Local Government of the Town.

Only a Freeman could trade within the Borough without the payment of tolls and dues and only a Freeman could vote for the Councillors, Aldermen, Mayor and Members of Parliament. The first man to be elected as a Freeman was Mr William Kethriche, the Town's first Mayor in 1439.

Part of the certificate conveying the Freedom of the City of Plymouth

Nobody could be elected as a Freeman if they were not born in the Town. According to an Order of the Corporation made in 1474/75, the person was also required to be a member of the Borough Guild of Our Lady and St George. The eldest son of an existing Freeman or somebody who had served a seven year apprenticeship with a Freeman could be elected to join the ranks. Subject to the earlier conditions, it was possible to purchase a Freedom but it was also possible for the Corporation to award honorary Freedoms as well.

List of the Freemen of the Borough of Plymouth in 1817.....

The Municipal Corporations Act 1835 removed all of these privileges and the process passed in to history until in 1885 the Honorary Freedom of the Boroughs Act permitted Boroughs to confer that title on 'persons of distinction and any persons who have rendered eminent services to the Borough'.

This provision was re-enacted in section 259 of the Local Government Act 1933 and this is the authority for the election of such Honorary Freemen today. The first woman to hold this honour was Lady Nancy Astor.

Since the amalgamation of the Three Towns in 1914 the following have been conferred with the title of Honorary Freeman of the City of Plymouth:

NAME	DATE CONFERRED
Mr John Henry Ellis, OBE (Deceased)	November 9th 1917
His Excellency the American Ambassador (The Honourable Walter Hines Page, DCL, LLD) (Deceased)	September 17th 1918
His Royal Highness the Prince Edward of Wales (afterwards the Duke of Windsor) (Deceased)	June 13th 1919
Alderman Sir Thomas Baker, KBE, JP (Deceased)	October 13th 1919
The Right Honourable Sir Henry Edward Duke (afterwards the Lord Merrivale) (Deceased)	March 14th 1924
Sir John Frederick Winnicott, JP (Deceased)	November 9th 1934
The Right Honourable the Viscount Astor (Deceased)	July 2nd 1936
Field-Marshall The Right Honourable Jan Christian Smuts, PC CH KC DTD (Deceased)	November 9th 1942
Alderman Sir James Clifford Tozer, JP (Deceased)	September 8th 1952
Alderman Hubert Moses Medland, JP (Deceased)	September 8th 1952
The Royal Marines	May 7th 1955
Nancy, Viscountess Astor, CH (Deceased)	July 16th 1959
Plymouth Command of the Royal Navy	September 26th 1963
Alderman Henry George Mason, CBE JP (Deceased)	December 6th 1965
Alderman Ronald George King, MBE (Deceased)	December 20th 1972
Alderman Harold Miller Pattinson, CBE (Deceased)	December 20th 1972
Alderman Leslie Francis Paul (Deceased)	December 20th 1972
Alderman Frederick John Stott, OBE JP (Deceased)	December 20th 1972
Baroness Vickers of Devonport, DBE (Deceased)	November 26th 1982
The Right Honourable Michael Foot, MP	November 26th 1982
Councillor George Ernest Hillyer Creber, CBE DL (Deceased)	November 26th 1982
Councillor Ivor Clarence Lowe (Deceased)	November 26th 1982
The Devonshire and Dorset Regiment	March 19th 1988
The 20 Commando Regiment Royal Artillery	January 29th 1996
Mr John Joseph Ingham	April 1st 1998
Councillor Thomas Edward Savery MA (Oxon) LLB (London)	April 1st 1998
Mr Arthur Raymond Stanley Floyd JP (Deceased)	April 1st 1998
Doctor Sheila Anne Cassidy, BM BCh MA (Oxon) DSc (Hon) Exeter DLitt (Hon)	April 1st 1998
Mrs Sylvia Irene Brice	April 1st 1998
The Right Honourable The Lord Owen, CH	March 23rd 2001
Baroness Fookes of Plymouth, DBE DL	March 23rd 2001
Mr Freeman Dennis Howard Dicker	March 23rd 2001
Alderman Reginald Cyril James Scott (Deceased)	March 23rd 2001