De Montfort Hall, Leicester
Number 67
May 2014 1
Gild Banquet Weekend 14th / 15th June 2014 This is to give you notice of the Gild’s Banquet Weekend in June, we would very much appreciate your support. The Banquet will be held on Saturday 14th June (7.00pm) in the Holmes Suite at Devonshire Place, 78 London Road, Leicester, LE2 0RA the city’s renowned banqueting establishment, located half a mile from the city centre near the railway station and close to several hotels. There is a carpark at the rear of the building in Prebend Street. Following a bucks fizz/wine pre-dinner reception, an appetising four-course menu, plus coffee and chocolates, has been selected, with vegetarian alternatives. Tickets cost £40 per head, please use enclosed booking form. A wine table offering reasonably priced wines will, of course, be available for dinner. The Freemen’s Service will be held on the following day, Sunday 15th June (10.30am), at Leicester Cathedral. The banquet is open to all members, their friends and relations. A booking form can be found in the centre pages. If you require any further information or require details of hotels please contact Mick Ayres on 0116 2242353 2
Number 67
May 2014
Patron: Colonel Robert Martin OBE DL President: The Lord Mayor of Leicester OFFICERS 2014 - 2015 Master: L.A. Roffee Deputy Master: M.E. Ayres Clerk: M.B. Hill Chamberlain: A. Marriott WARDENS N. Cave, A. Chettle, L. Kirk, J.D. Lewitt, B.W. Mudford. 3
GILDHALL NEWS May 2014
Contents Editor’s comments Report by Lynn Roffee, Master of the Gild Report by Brian Mudford, Chairman of the Board of Deputies Chamberlain’s report by Maurice Hill Gild Accounts to 31st March 2014 Report on the FEW by Michael Ayres Report on this year’s Common Hall SureStop water stop valves Will writing and lasting Power of Attorney
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Future programme - dates for your diary Sunday 1st June, Visit to Cutty Sark and Camden Lock Market Saturday 14th June, Annual Gild Banquet at Devonshire Place. Sunday 15th June, Annual Freemen’s Service at the Leicester Cathedral Sunday 29th June, Freemen’s Garden Party at the Holt Tues 5th August & Sat 9th August Leicester’s Freemen during WW1 September? Visit to the Rolls-Royce Heritage Trust in Derby Friday 19th December, Puss in Boots at the Little Theatre
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Contributions to the Gildhall News The History of the Freemen of Leicester - part 10 by John Tolton Mrs. Lilian Wignall – a Freeman of the City of Leicester, old and new. A poem - Richard III by Jim Manship
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Have you changed your address?
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Forms included with the Newsletter Booking form for visit to Cutty Sark and Camden Lock Market Booking form for Annual Gild Banquet at Devonshire Place. Booking form for visit to Puss in Boots pantomime at the Little Theatre Application for Membership & Associate Membership of the Gild Gild products order form
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Editor’s Comments I thought a visit to the Cutty Sark at Greenwich and Camden Market would be of interest to many of you, but very few have booked to date. Don’t let this be another trip that the Gild have to cancel. Have a look at the details on page 10, agree that it will be a good day out for the family and send your booking form to Maurice Hill. If you have a story that would be of interest to other members, please put pen to paper, or finger to e-mail. We don’t need a book, only a short article, possibly one or two pages long. It could be longer if it’s enthralling!! Preferably I would like to receive them as an attachment to an e-mail if possible, but pen and ink is acceptable.
Brian Mudford
Report by Lynn Roffee, Master of the Gild I feel very honoured and very privileged to have been elected Master of the Gild of Freemen of the City of Leicester at Common Hall on 16th April 2014, and also to be the first female Master. I think it can be seen that the Gild does actively embrace change. It goes without saying how important, and I’m sure I speak for all Court Officers and Wardens, it is to maintain tradition, but also to move with the times and look to the future to ensure that the Gild goes from strength to strength Now that daughters are eligible to take their freedom, we have only seen a couple take up the opportunity to get involved with the Gild. We still seek ‘younger’ freemen to become involved and I am delighted to welcome Nick Cave to the Gild Court, who I am pleased to say falls into this category. As with any such club, society or organisation, support is always a necessary and we need our members support whether it is organising events or trips, volunteering to help with setting up and running an event or just supporting those events. Please help us by putting forward yours ideas and suggestions – your input is both welcomed and valued. We are keen to get all Gild Members involved in both the organising and the running of activities of the Gild. To sum up, anyone who is eligible to take up their freedom is most welcome to join the Gild. It would be even better if we could entice more of the new Freemen to join the Gild and to get involved in whatever capacity they can. I look forward to meeting you and your family at the various events planned during the next year.
Lynn Roffee 5
Report by Chairman of the Board - Brian Mudford It is a great honour to be elected Chairman of the Board of Deputies at the AGM in March. I look forward to an interesting and challenging term of office. I would like to thank my predecessor, Mr. Bill Hargrave, the committee chairmen and my fellow Deputies for their hard work during the past year. Following a prolonged recruitment drive, the Board now comprises of 18 Deputies. The diverse skills and experience of the Board is a valuable resource in maintaining and developing the services provided for the Freemen of Leicester. If you are a Freeman of Leicester and have a few hours a month to spare, and would be interested in joining the Board please email office@leicesterfreemen.com or phone Lynda on Leicester 0116 283 4017. The increased number of deputies on the Board has allowed us to review the way we are organised. We are now trying out a new committee and meeting structure. This involved the creation of a new Planning committee which it is hoped will provide capacity to succeed in our ambitions for the charity. Bungalow 27 has been extended and the residents have moved in. Planning permission for the front extension at bungalow 28 has been obtained, and the refurbishment of Bungalow 25 will start shortly. The annual inspection of the estate by the Deputies took place on Saturday 5th April. This was used to prepare a project plan for improvements and any remedial work required. Freemen’s Holt is looking in good order, the grass, shrubs and flowerbeds are being well cared for. Four fragrant standard yellow roses were purchased in memory of Roger Allen. These have been planted in the shrub beds either side of the steps outside the community centre. A good time to visit the Holt will be at the garden party which is planned for Sunday 29th June. This will be a good day out for all the family, with many attractions for all ages. A steering committee under the guidance of Maurice Hill is working extremely hard on the programme for your enjoyment. The only thing necessary to ensure a success again this year is that you support this event. See the flyer for more details and don’t forget to apply for your tickets. At the making free ceremony held on 30th January , seven people were made free, including 106 year old Lilian Wignall, family name Harding. Lisa Joanne Davies, family name Measures Christine Ann Johnson, family name Measures Joseph Andrew Smith, family name Measures 6
Michelle Louise Smith, family name Measures Oliver Charles Smith, family name Measures Keith Raymond Wignall, family name Harding See photograph on the outside of the back cover.
Brian Mudford
Chamberlain’s Report by Maurice Hill The accounts have now been audited and a copy of the Auditor’s report is contained in page 21 of this issue of the Gildhall News. The report shows the result of the exercise to claim back membership arrears boosting the membership income by some £957 when compared with 2013. If we analyse the result of the audit and compare it with 2013 we find that 2014 shows cash at bank plus petty cash plus prepayments giving a total of £5137, whereas 2013 shows cash at bank plus cheques waiting payment into bank plus petty cash plus prepayments giving a total of £6367. 2014 is down by £1230 compared with 2013. The prime reason for this downturn is the increase in the Gild Stock because we had to purchase new Christmas cards plus we bought a supply of ladies scarves, and we also had a considerable decrease in the amount of cash received in advance Finally I can report that I have completed the new card index system and it is now in use.
Maurice Hill
Report on the FEW (Freemen of England and Wales) by Michael Ayres Members of the FEW Executive Committee held their first meeting of 2014 at Freemen’s Holt on Saturday 11th January. The meeting commenced at 10:30 am, after a break for lunch the meeting closed at 4:00 pm. For the next meeting of the FEW, the Court Meeting was held on Saturday 15th March at Freemen’s Holt. Saturday morning began at 10:00 am with an Executive committee meeting, followed by the Wardens meeting at 12:00 noon. After Lunch the Court meeting commenced at 2:30 pm (This meeting was open to all members of the Leicester Gild). Ten members of the Leicester Gild were present at the meeting; Members of other Guilds present, Berwick on Tweed, Pembroke, York, Shrewsbury, Alcester, Coventry, Northampton and Grimsby.
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The meeting commenced with an opening address by the President of the FEW Gordon Varndell, who thanked the Leicester Gild for hosting the meeting. Following reports from the Secretary and the approval of the accounts, the Wardens for the FEW then gave their reports. This is always the interesting part of the meeting, when you hear the reports from Guilds around the Country on the activities and outing which they hold. The meeting closed at 4:00 pm. A full report of this meeting will be published in the June FEW Journal 178. The Freemen of England and Wales 2014 AGM weekend will be hosted by the Stafford Freemen on Friday 19th to Sunday 21st September, further information and costs of the AGM are available by contacting Mick Ayres on 0116 2242353.
Michael Ayres
Common Hall – 16th April 2014 This year’s Common Hall was held in the Council Chamber at the Town Hall on Wednesday 16th April to elect three court members and to elect officers of the Court and to discuss proposed amendments to the rules as identified in the Notice of Common Hall. Gild members were welcomed to the Council Chamber by the Lord Mayor, Councillor Mustafa Kamal who retired from the meeting before the business of the evening took place. Deputy Master Mick Ayres chaired the meeting who gave the Gild’s annual report in lieu of the Master, Tony Chettle who was unable to attend. The three retiring members from the Court were Lynn Roffee, Brian Mudford and John Tolton (the latter did not seek re-election). Three other gild members (Nicholas Cave, Keith Harding and Peter Staines) sought election onto the Court creating the need for a ballot. The successful candidates were Lynn Roffee, Brian Mudford and Nicholas Cave who will each serve on the court for a three year period. Lynn Roffee was elected Master of the Gild, Michael Ayres Deputy Master and Andy Marriott the Chamberlain. Maurice Hill agreed to accept the post of Clerk for a short time until the next Court Meeting in July, after which time he would not continue in that office. Some discussion took place about the proposed rule changes, some of which were cosmetic changes and were approved, as was the proposal to invite non freemen to become honorary members of the Gild for providing exceptional service to the Freemen of Leicester and Bob Gregory was successfully elected as Honorary Member for life. Proposals in respect of awards for freemen who provided exceptional service were defeated. After the business of the evening was concluded the members retired to the tea rooms for refreshments. 8
SureStop water stop valves This report first appeared in the Gildhall News this time last year. Several people have requested the details again, and for the information of the new freemen it has been decided to repeat the report. Water leaks and burst pipes can cause serious damage and are one of the main causes of domestic floor disasters in the UK. The amount of damage a water leak can cause can be significantly reduced if the water supply can be turned off quickly. This is often not possible because stop taps are usually located in out of the way places e.g. under the sink. It can prove to be quite a struggle to turn the stop tap off especially if you are elderly or disabled, also if the stop tap as not been used for some time it can become affected by scale and partially seize up. From personal experience, and being 80+, it’s one thing to turn off the stop tap and entirely another trying to get up off of the floor afterwards! A SureStop valve enables the water supply to be turned off at the flick of a switch and overcomes all the problems associated with using a conventional stop tap. The switch itself can be fitted in a handy position, on a wall, or inside a cupboard for example. The Board of Deputies have managed to negotiate a very competitive price with GAP Property Services for the supply and fitting of a SureStop valve at a cost to you of only £108. To have one fitted, and we would strongly recommend that you do, contact GAP Property Services, who carry out most of the Maintenance work at the Holt, direct, and they will make all arrangements. GAP Property Services Leicester Ltd. Unit 9 Woodgate Business Centre 74 Bradgate Street Leicester LE4 OAW Tel. No. 0116 2425796
Maurice Hill Will Writing and Lasting Power of Attorney (LPAs) The Welfare Committee of the Board of Deputies are currently working with AGE UK to establish both low cost Will Writing and if possible low cost LPAs. Will Writing has now been agreed and full details will be included in the next issue of the Gildhall News a simple joint Will could cost as little as £85 compared with the usual £400 for the same service. 9
A Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) is a legal document that allows you to state who you would like to make certain decision on your behalf if at some future date you reach the point where you are no longer capable or want to yourself. There are two different types of LPA: property and affairs LPA and health and welfare LPA. Each type covers different decisions. You can choose to make either both types or just one. To provide more information on the subject of LPAs we propose to arrange a presentation on the subject at the Holt with a guest speaker. We would suggest that you give the question of “Do I need an LPA?” some serious thought and come along to learn more. Please send me your details and if sufficient people are interested we will go ahead and arrange the presentation. Maurice Hill
Programme of Future Events Visit to Cutty Sark at Greenwich and Camden Lock Sunday 1st June 2014, coach departs the Holt 8.30 am Cost £28.00 Gild members, £30. 00 non Gild members and £25 children (under 16) All prices includes the £9.50 admission charge After a disastrous fire and at a cost of £50million the Cutty Sark was reopened to visitors in April 2012 thus beginning a new chapter in the extraordinary life of the last surviving tea clipper, the fastest and greatest of her line. She is a living testimony to the bygone, glorious days of sail and, most importantly, a monument to those that lost their lives in the merchant service. Venture aboard and beneath one of the world’s most famous ships. Walk along the decks in the footsteps of the merchant seamen who sailed her well over a hundred years ago. Explore the hold where precious cargo was stored on those epic voyages then marvel as you balance a 963 tonne national treasure on just one hand. Enjoy the unique experience of sitting directly underneath the ship in the Even Keel café sampling the range of homemade cakes or try hot soup and sandwiches, get the kids involved and sign them up for the special ship’s apprentice lunch! We then move on to Camden Lock which is on the route home 10
Camden Lock Market is the original arts and crafts market in Camden, having started on the site of the old timber yard some 40 odd years ago. Featuring some of London’s finest designer/makers, it has become the creative heart of London, with amazing, one of a kind shops and stalls. It prides itself on the quality of the products and services on offer. Please Book as soon as possible, using the booking form included in this issue.
The Gild Annual Banquet Saturday 14th June 2014 Devonshire Place, London Road, Leicester I would like to remind members that this year will be the fifth year that the Gild have held their Annual Banquet at Devonshire Place and all freemen, not just Gild members, are invited with their family and friends. It is an ideal way for new freemen (and that includes lady freemen) to find out what we are all about and what makes us tick. Everyone is welcome and those who work hard to organize the evening really appreciate the presence of new members. The event has been a great success in previous years; attended by freemen not just from Leicester but from many other guilds up and down the country. The Gild Court has received nothing but plaudits from those who attended in the past, so much so that some of the visiting freemen from other Guilds consider our banquet to be the highlight of the year. Tickets this year will be priced at £40.00 per head. Devonshire place is an excellent venue providing top class food accompanied by top class service and, of course, the company is also top class. The Banqueting Hall is set out with round tables which make for easy conversation with your neighbours and ensures that no-one is left out at the end of the row. A number of us attend banquets organized by other Freemen’s Guilds and wherever we go we are made welcome, and we like to reciprocate. Freemen from whichever town or city they hail from are friendly, and I like to think that we are as well. The following morning, Sunday 15th June, the Freemen’s Annual Church Service will be held in St Martin’s Cathedral at 10:30 am and all freemen and their families are invited to attend regardless of whether or not they attended the banquet.
If you would like to reserve your places at the banquet please complete the booking form in the centre of the Gildhall News and return it to Mick Ayres at the address on the form. continued on page 14 11
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2014 Garden Party This year the garden party at the Holt will be held on Sunday 29th June please make a note in your diary.
Volunteers Wanted!! We are urgently seeking volunteers to help with the setting up and taking down of this year’s Garden Party. Can you lend a hand for a few hours during the evenings of week commencing Monday 23rd June, or on Saturday 28th June or evenings Week commencing 30th June?. All we need to know is when you could help, your name and telephone number, in order that we can call upon you as required.Just a couple of hours sometime in the above periods will be an enormous help to us. Please do come and help us get the show on the road Please send requested details to me at:33, Mossdale Road, Kingsway, Leicester LE3 2UT Email mozjune@talktalk.net
Maurice Hill Garden Party Committee
Visit to the Rolls-Royce Heritage Trust in Derby Consideration is being given to arranging a visit to Rolls-Royce Derby, possibly in September 2014. You will see the largest collection of aero engines in the country, ranging from World War 1 era piston engines, the famous Merlin, right up to modern day jet engines. The collection also includes examples across Rolls-Royce’s product range including marine and industrial applications. There are a small number of vintage cars, some of which hark back to the early days of Rolls-Royce and the start of the motor car era. There are also examples of engines and motor cars from distinguished names such as Armstrong Siddeley and Napier, whose companies became part of the Rolls-Royce group in their latter years. The Exhibitions are available to view between 09.15 and 12.30 hours Monday mornings and Friday mornings, and between 09.15 and 16.00 hours Wednesdays. A Guide will take you round the Exhibitions. There is no charge to visit and they can accommodate a group up to 30 persons. Sensible shoes should be worn whilst visiting the exhibitions (no high heels or open toe shoes). It is possible 14
for visitors to take photographs (for their own personal use) within the exhibition areas. We need to know how many people would be interested in this visit, before we proceed any further. We would consider hiring a coach from Freemen’s Holt if there were sufficient interest. Please contact Andrew Marriott as soon as possible on 0116 2442776 , 07505132582 or e-mail andymarriott@live.co.uk if you are interested.
Visit to the Little Theatre , Dover Street, Leicester to see Puss in Boots on 19th December 2014 starting at 7 pm. A purrrrrrfect Christmas treat for all the family! Please book early for this traditional family pantomime - freemen, family and friends. Tickets cost £14 for adults and £12 for children (under 16). Tickets will be allocated on a first-come, first served basis. Please complete the application form in CAPITAL LETTERS and make sure your address is clear. We don’t want to send your tickets to the wrong address.
Contributions to the Gildhall News ***************************** History of Freemen – Part 10, the Tudor Period Elizabethan Charters During the reign of Elizabeth I it became more and more apparent that the Charter of 1489 granted by Henry VII did not comply with the current legal view of local government of Elizabethan lawyers and that moves to rectify this situation were necessary. Much of the land in and around Leicester was owned by the Crown or the Duchy of Lancaster and negotiations had been taking place for certain parcels to be transferred to the burgesses. Because the company of 24 burgesses and 48 comburgesses did not have corporate status it wasn’t clear that land purchased was for the benefit of the town which led to suggestions of corruption in the Mayor’s Court. The burgesses petitioned the Crown for a charter to regularize the situation. In February of 1589 the burgesses of Leicester wrote an obsequious long winded letter to Queen Elizabeth stating that the borough was governed 15
by a Mayor and company of 24 aldermen and a society of 48 honest and lawful men known as the Company of eight and forty, but their existence might not be deemed to be valid in law. The petition went on to ask that the existing body be recognized and established as a corporate body along with the heirs and successors of those present and be styled forever as the Mayor and burgesses of the town of Leicester. Yearly the Mayor shall be elected from the society of twenty four for a period of one year on the day of the Feast of St Matthew the Apostle and that the first Mayor to be elected shall be William Ludlam. They also requested that they should be able in law to acquire, receive, hold and possess lands and tenements to themselves and the successors, and to be able to sell, grant, or assign the said lands. Perhaps the most far reaching inclusion in the petition was the request that all issues, profits, commodities, emoluments and hereditaments should be lawfully held and enjoyed by the Mayor and burgesses of Leicester. Income from much of the lands and properties in Leicester benefitted the Crown and not the borough. The properties listed in the petition include some names that may be familiar; the Horse Fayre, a tenement in Sanveygate, the Saturday Shambles and the Saint Nicholas Shambles. ‘Shambles’ is an obsolete mediaeval term for an open-air slaughterhouse and meat market and at that time there were little or no sanitary facilities. All the guts, offal and blood were discarded in a disorganized mess were the butchering was carried out and by extension any scene of total disorganization today is referred to as a shambles. At a Common Hall held in April 1589 confirmation of the new charter was recorded and that the new books of Incorporation and other records should be kept in a box provided with three locks, one key to be held by the Mayor, one by the recorder and the third to be held by the chamberlain. Just ten years later, in 1599, a further petition was sent to the crown showing concern for the law and order in the Borough of Leicester, or in their words, “Desiring that the Borough may remain peaceful and quiet, to the terror of evil-doers and the praise of them that do well, and that our peace and other acts of justice may be observed there without further hindrance.” In order to perform the function of law and order satisfactorily the petition requested that the corporate body of the Mayor and Burgesses should be extended to the Mayor, Bailiffs and Burgesses of the Borough of Leicester. Furthermore, the Borough of Leicester shall be a free borough in itself, and that the burgesses and their successors shall be a corporate body in fact and in name and shall consist of a perpetual community of 16
one mayor, two bailiffs and the burgesses of Leicester and shall have a constant succession. So the government of Leicester now consisted of one mayor, two bailiffs, 24 aldermen (the mayor was deemed to be one of the aldermen), and 48 other burgesses called the Common Council. All the burgesses had to be inhabitants within the borough to qualify as part of the corporate body. The petition actually named the individuals to be appointed to the various roles and the first mayor to be named was Thomas Clark, and the bailiffs Thomas Chettle and James Andrew. All the remaining burgesses and Common Council were identified with some surnames familiar among today’s freemen: James Ellis, Ralph Chettle, William Yates, Ralph Orton and Robert Johnson. The whole corporate body named was nominated for life during good conduct and only they could nominate replacements in the event of the death or removal of one of their number. Democracy, even in a limited form, had not arrived yet in Leicester as the freemen had no say in the appointments. In addition, the mayor and aldermen shall nominate a man learned in the laws of England to be appointed who shall be known as the Recorder, along with a second person also learned in the laws of England known as the Steward. Further appointments included a common clerk and protonotary, and five sergeants at mace to make proclamations and arrests and to execute the processes of the law. The burgesses had in their petition asked that they can make their own laws, providing that they are not contrary to the laws of England, and fine or imprison individuals who offend against the local laws. A court was to be held in the Guildhall every Monday to listen to pleas of trespass, debt, fraud, etc., or other actions at common law. The sitting Mayor, the Recorder and four Aldermen who were last Mayors shall be Justices of the Peace and execute the statutes of certain laws and keep correct weights and measures. But they may not proceed without a special mandate in cases of murder or felony or other cases touching life and limb. No merchant or any man who is not a freeman may use any trade or sell goods except only in fair time, unless he has obtained a license from the Mayor, bailiffs and burgesses. Around Leicester were situated the suburbs of the Parish of St Margaret, the Bishop’s Fee, the Parishes of St Leonard and of St Mary, and the Newark and the petition asked that they be included under the rule of the Corporation of Leicester. 17
The plight of the poor was not forgotten in the petition. It was requested that a wool market be held for the purchase and sale of wool, woolen thread and yarn where subjects may buy and sell the same or use it in any way they choose. All tolls, fines, profits, etc., arising out of the market shall be used for the profit of the poor and the sick men and women within the borough.
John Tolton Mrs. Lilian Wignall – a Freeman of the City of Leicester, old and new. My mother, Lilian Wignall was made free on 30th January this year. She is a Harding, whose family has been Freemen since the seventeenth century. I understand that she is one of the oldest, or even, possibly, the oldest Freeman in England. Whether that is true or not, it is a considerable achievement to arrive at 106 years old, in reasonable health and still making good decisions! To write about the occasion of her being made free… “Free at last!”, I think was the quote from the Chairman of the Board at the Town Hall… is a particular pleasure because she has remained very active to this day and has enjoyed all her years to the full. She has been an example to us all-showing us the value of being tough and tenacious but at the same time cheerful and caring. It is strange that now she is more mellow than she used to be we still fear her anger and feel driven by her straightforward set of values- but then that’s what parents are for isn’t it? Until quite recently, Lilian still travelled. Not too long ago, she went with her older sister Nellie to visit her relatives in New Zealand. Again, not too long ago, my brother Brian and his wife Joan took her to Crete for a holiday. Because Joan had taken the trouble to learn a bit of Greek they were invited by a local village to join in their Fiesta. They were sitting watching the villagers dancing in the square when, apparently, Mum got up, linked arms with the nearest villagers and danced happily round the square Well, Mum has seen many changes in her life. In 1907 Boy Scouts had just had their first camp at Brownsea Island; King Edward 8th was on the throne and the Wright brothers had just taken their Flyer into the air. Top of the Pops was “Come into the Garden Maude”. Life in Leicester was very different - transport was horse drawn, and I remember Grandma Wignall telling me that one year they went on holiday to Mountsorrel on a horse and cart. 18
Mum is always very patriotic. I never heard her talk much about the First World War but I know that she lived every minute of the 2nd World War. The Royal Family and Winston Churchill were her heroes and heroines and she takes a fierce pride in the immense achievements and sacrifices of those war years. She is less generous to some of our more recent politicians! Dad and Mum shared a very full life, sailing, travelling abroad, including sailing on a Missippi Steam Boat and riding a camel in Egypt. She also had that very British insistence in Spain that traffic should drive on the left – in doing so, she made a lasting impression on the bonnet of a car which had different views! Mum loved to fly. In particular, she loved and still loves Concorde. On her 90th birthday, she was given a flight around the country from East Midlands airport down to Bristol and on to Heathrow. On her television she still shows off, proudly, her model of that sadly missed aeroplane. Mum is a proud family person. She has always welcomed her two daughters in Law, Joan and Ann, into the bosom of the family, and is fiercely proud of all her grandchildren, Danny, Mark, Andrew, James and Sian – always keen to get the latest news of them. In the same way, she has a great fondness for her granddaughters-in-law, Lynne, Debbie and Donna, and the, hopefully, not yet complete list of great grandchildren, Ellen, Jacob, Joel, Harry and Joe. She has always been a Christian. When she moved to Braunstone soon after Dad died in 1979, she joined the local Baptist Church and has been a loyal member ever since, being involved in various activities, and still attending regularly. An important part of Mum’s Christian faith is a deep caring about disadvantaged minorities. Quite a few years ago, there was a programme called “Challenge Aneka”. One of these highlighted the plight the plight of Rumanian orphans. All of us were moved, but one our friends, Alison Roe, actually went to Rumania to set up a care home. The on-going work is called the Genciu Fund, which is a particular interest for Mum. She always asks us to lend support to this excellent work and will rather ask for donations to that work than receive birthday presents. So, now Mum is 106 Not Out, happy to be a Freeman of the City of Leicester and still retains a zest for life! We are starting to plan her 107th birthday party in October.
Keith Wignall Freeman of the City of Leicester. 19
Richard III This is the tale of Richard III who died at Bosworth Field. He lost his life in battle because he would not yield. His body was taken to Leicester where rumours did abound. It was thrown into the river Soar so it could not be found. Now someone has found it ‘neath a car park in the city. The Priory that had once been there had been pulled down, what a pity. They proved that it was King Richard by a test called DNA. This in itself was a miracle so most people say. They only took the skeleton out. So surely, I’ll be bound, the rest of what was Richard must still be there in the ground. Put the bones back where they were for the last five hundred years. Then like me, surely folks, you’ll hear King Richard’s cheers. Put a tomb there if you must, to commemorate the site. Then leave things as they used to be, and to King Richard III, good night.
Jim Manship Freeman of the City of Leicester.
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The Gild of The Freeman of the City of Leicester Income and Expenditure account for the year ending 31 March 2014 Income Entrance Fees Annual subscriptions Guildsman Associated Members
2,376 358
Donations Sales of Gild insignia Gowns, tie badges etc. Less cost
707 (584)
Bank Interest
2014
2013
5
24
2,734 25
122 1
1,415 362
542 (387)
2,888
1,777
155 2 1,958
Expenditure Functions and events Expenses Income Printing postages and stationary Freeman of England and Wales Membership subscriptions Donations to Lord Mayor's Appeal SOS Appeal Other Gilds Miscellaneous Expenses
6,355 (6,340)
15 1,444
5,659 (5,524)
135 1,681
60 200 262 0 174
60 200 0 0 49
Excess(deficit) of income over expenditure
2,155 733
2,125 (167)
Add balance from previous year Total
6,878 7,611
7,045 6,878
Cash at Bank Cheques awaiting payment into the bank Petty Cash Stock of Gild Insignia Prepayments
4,739 0 148 2,597 250
4,587 818 277 1,839 685
Less cash received in advanced and creditors
7,734 (123)
8,206 (1,328)
7,611
6,878
Represented by:
I have examined the books and vouchers of the Gild and certify that the Income and Expenditure Account is in accordance therewith. Russell D Mason Honorary Auditor 12-Apr-14
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Have you changed your address ? In the event that is necessary to inform the Gild or the Board of any change in circumstances then the information should be sent to: Lynda Bramley Clerk to the Board Leicester Freemen’s Estate 32 Freemen’s Holt Old Church Street Aylestone Leicester LE2 8NH Telephone: 0116 – 283 4017 E-mail: leicester.freemen@talktalkbusiness.net Leicester Freemen web site: www.leicesterfreemen.com
Copy for the next issue should reach the Editor by Friday 18th July 2014 For your News and Views write to : Brian Mudford 11 Huntsman Close Markfield Leicestershire LE67 9XE Telephone 01530 245414 e-mail: brianmudford@tiscali.co.uk
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The new Master of the Leicester Gild of Freemen, Mrs Lynn Roffee being congratulated by the Deputy Master, Mr Mick Ayres after her election at Common Hall on Wednesday 16th April 2014
Leicester Freeman runs Paris Marathon Tom Hill, grandson of Maurice and June Hill, is studying European Law and French at Strasbourg Univerity. In between times he has taken up marathon running and earlier he did the Cannes marathon in the south of France and on Sunday the 6th April he ran the Paris marathon. The photo shows Tom when he had just finished the run. These Freemen get everywhere don’t they!!
23
Group photograph taken after the Making Free ceremoney on 30th January 2014. Six of the seven new freemen are shown standing behind Bill Hargrave, Chairman of the Board of Deputies, The Lord Mayor Cllr Mustafa Kamal, Keith Harding, a member of the Gild of Freemen, and Tony Chettle, Master of the Gild of Freemen. The lady sitting in the middle is the seventh new freeman, 106 year old Mrs Lilian Wignall
BOOKING FORM
Visit to Cutty Sark at Greenwich and Camden Lock Sunday 1st June 2014, coach departs the Holt 8.30 am Please reserve………. adult places at £28.00 each .......... child places (under 16) at £25.00 each ...........places for non-Gild members at £30.00 each My name is.…………………………..……...………………………………. My address is…....………………….....……………………………………. …………………………………………………………………………. Postcode……………………….Telephone……………………………. e-mail address........................................................................................ I enclose a cheque/postal order for £…………….., made payable to “Gild of Leicester Freemen”. Please send to: Maurice Hill, 33 Mossdale Road, Kingsway, Leicester LE3 2UT. Tel: 0116 2895394 Applications will be dealt with strictly on a first-come, first served basis.
BOOKING FORM
Gild Gala Banquet Sarturday 14th June 2014 at Devonshire Place Please reserve................places at £40.00 each I will require.........vegetarian meals .........of us will be attanding the Annual Freemen’s Service at Leicester Cathedral on Sunday 15th June 2014 My name is ............................................................................................. Address................................................................................................... ................................................................................................................ .................................................................................................................. Post code.........................Telephone number.......................................... My guests will be: .............................................................................................................................. ............................................................................................................................... .............................................................................................................................
Please advise on any special dietary requirements or vegetarian meals against guest name e-mail address......................................................................................... I enclose a cheque/postal order for £...............made payable to “Gild of Leicester Freemen” Please send to: Mick Ayres, 31 Freemen’s Holt, Old Church Street, Aylestone, Leicester, LE2 8NH Telephone: 0116 2242353 E-mail: mickayres31@virginmedia.com Applications will be dealt with strictly on a first-come, first served basis. No bookings will be accepted after 1st June 2014.
GILD OF FREEMEN OF THE CITY OF LEICESTER APPLICATION FOR FULL MEMBERSHIP
Full Name______________________________________________ (BLOCK LETTERS)
Address_____________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________
Post Code ________________Tel No. _______________________ e-mail address__________________________________________ I am a duly sworn Freeman of the City of Leicester and apply to be enrolled as a Member of the Gild of Freemen, for which I enclose the sum of £10.00 (Enrolment fee of £1.00 plus the first annual subscription of £9.00).
Signature
Date APPLICATION FOR ASSOCIATE MEMBERSHIP
Full Name______________________________________________ (BLOCK LETTERS)
Address ___________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________ Post Code __________________Tel No. ____________________ e-mail address__________________________________________ I certify that I am the SPOUSE / WIDOW / WIDOWER / SON / DAUGHTER / GRANDCHILD aged 18 years or over (please delete where necessary) of Mr. / Mrs./ Ms. _____________________________________(Freeman of Leicester) Or I am a full member of the Guild of Freemen of_________________(City or Town) I apply to be enrolled as an Associate Member of the Gild, for which I enclose the sum of £7.00 (Enrolment Fee of £1.00 plus the first Annual Subscription of £6.00) Signature___________________________________________Date_____________ Please make cheques payable to ‘Gild of Leicester Freemen’ and send with this application to: Andy Marriott, 10 Goldhill, Leicester LE2 6TQ. Tel: 0116 2442776
BOOKING FORM
Visit to the Little Theatre , Dover Street, Leicester to see Puss in Boots on 19th December 2014 starting at 7 pm. Please reserve………. adult places at £14.00 each ............. children places(under 16) at £12.00 each Please complete in CAPITAL LETTERS My name is
…………………………………………………………………
. My address is ………………………………………………………………. ………………………………………………………………………….
Postcode……………………….Telephone…………………………….
e-mail address........................................................................................
I enclose a cheque/postal order for £…………….., made payable to “Gild of Leicester Freemen”. Please send to: Andy Marriott, 10 Goldhill, Leicester LE2 6TQ. Tel: 0116 2442776 Applications will be dealt with on a first-come, first served basis.
THE GILD OF FREEMEN OF THE CITY OF LEICESTER GILD PRODUCTS ORDER FORM 1. Tie
- navy
………at £10.00 each
= £………….
- maroon
………at £10.00 each
= £………….
- green
………at £10.00 each
= £………….
- two ties (state colours) ...……at £19.00 two
= £………….
- three ties
…...…at £27.50 three
= £………….
2. Gild scarf
...........at £15.00 each
= £................
3. Key-ring
………at £5.00 each
= £………….
4. Lapel badge
………at £2.50 each
= £………….
5. Cufflinks
..........at £16.00 each
= £………….
………at £3.00 each
= £………….
…...…at £55.00 each
= £………….
.....….at £20.00 each
= £………….
8. Blazer badge
.........at £13.50 each
=£..............
9. Wall plaque, wooden
…..…at £24.00 each
= £………….
6. Gild pens
- new design
7. Arm badge - framed - unframed
10. Gown, made to measure, incl. delivery.....price on request
= £………….
(Chest ..........ins, height..........ft...........ins). 11. Register of Freemen- 1931-85
………at £4.00 each
= £………….
- 1986-96
………at £3.00 each
= £………….
TOTAL
= £…………. plus postage
I enclose cheque/postal order for the above total, made payable to: “GILD OF LEICESTER FREEMEN” NAME…………………………………………………………………………………….. ADDRESS………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………… …………………………………………………………………………………. POST CODE…………………………… E-MAIL ADDRESS:........................................................................................ Signed………………………………………………………………………………………. Please post to: Andy Marriott, 10 Goldhill, Leicester LE2 6TQ. Tel: 0116 2442776