Freedom of the City

Freedom of the City is an honour bestowed by some municipalities in Australia, Canada, Ireland, France, Italy, New Zealand, South Africa, Spain, the United Kingdom, Gibraltar and Zimbabwe to esteemed members of its community and to organisations to be honoured, often for service to the community; the term applies to two separate honours, one civilian and one military. Key to the City is a similar award made in several other countries, and is more prevalent in the United States.

Contents 1 Forms of freedom of the city 1.1 Military privilege 1.2 Entitlement to civil privileges 1.2.1 Freedom of the City of London 1.2.2 Other UK cities 1.2.3 Ireland 1.3 Civic honour 1.3.1 Key to the City 2 Military freedom of the city 2.1 Australia 2.2 Canada 2.3 Rhodesia 2.4 United Kingdom 3 Notable non-military awards of 'freedom of the city' and 'key to the city' 3.1 Australia 3.2 Albania 3.3 Canada 3.4 Colombia 3.5 Republic of Ireland 3.6 United Kingdom 3.7 Jamaica 3.8 Japan 3.9 Puerto Rico 3.10 United States 4 References 5 External links

Forms of freedom of the city

Military privilege

Freedom of the City is an ancient honour granted to martial organizations, allowing them the privilege to march into the city "with drums beating, colours flying, and bayonets fixed".^[1]

This honour dates back to the laws of ancient Rome that made it a capital offence for Roman legions to enter the city in formation or with weapons without permission. This was meant to ensure that ambitious generals did not mount a military coup against the Senate.^[2] (It was that law that Julius Caesar broke when crossing the Rubicon.) Similar laws were passed by cities throughout the Medieval era, also to protect civic security and rights, even against their own king's troops.

However, legions, regiments, or other martial groups that had given heroic service or whose honour was beyond question, might be granted Freedom of the City: the group would not have to disarm or break ranks before the city gates were opened to them. Given the serious risk the city would be running, this was a rare honour.

Today, martial freedom of the city is an entirely ceremonial honour, but remains the oldest and one of the highest civic honours in the Commonwealth of Nations.^[3]

Entitlement to civil privileges

A slightly more common freedom of the city is connected to the medieval concept of "free status", when city and town charters drew a distinction between freemen and vassals of a feudal Lord. As such, freemen actually pre-date 'boroughs'. Early freedom of the boroughs ceremonies had great importance in affirming that the recipient enjoyed privileges such as the right to trade and own property, and protection within the town.

Before parliamentary reform in 1832, freedom of the city or town conferred the right to vote in the 'parliamentary boroughs' for the MPs. Until the Municipal Corporations Act 1835 the freemen were the exclusive electorate for the boroughs. These two Acts together curtailed the power of the freemen and extended the franchise to all 'householders' (local rate payers). The private property belonging to the freemen collectively was retained. York, Oxford and Newcastle-upon-Tyne still own considerable areas within their towns, although the income is effectively given to support charitable objects. The Local Government Act 1972 specifically preserved Freemen's rights.^[4] The Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009 removed any restrictions entitling only men to be freemen.^[5]

Freedom of the City of London

Liveryman and Freeman of the City of London In England, the most extensive borough freedom is that conferred by the Freedom of the City of London, first recorded in 1237. This is closely tied to the role and status of the Livery Companies. From 1835 the Freedom "without the intervention of a Livery Company" has been bestowed by a general resolution of Common Council, by 'redemption' (purchase), at one time for an onerous sum, but now for a donation to the Freemen's School.^[6]

New Freemen are enrolled in a ceremony in Guildhall, when they receive a guide to conducting their lives in an honourable fashion and an impressive sealed certificate. Freemen's children get admission preference at the City of London Freemen's School. There are a number of rights traditionally but apocryphally associated with Freemen—the right to drive sheep and cattle over London Bridge; to a silken rope, if hanged; to carry a naked sword in public; or that if the City of London Police finds a freeman drunk and incapable, they will bundle him or her into a taxi and send them home rather than throw them into a cell. While sheep have occasionally been driven over London Bridge on special occasions, the rest of these "privileges" are now effectively symbolic.

The belief that freemen have droving rights over the bridges appears to be a misinterpretation of freemen's historic freedom from bridge tolls when bringing animals into the City for sale.^[7] Nevertheless, this "invented" right has been exercised periodically in modern times:

• On August 19, 1999, Jef Smith, a Freeman of London walked 2 sheep over Tower Bridge in order to bring attention to the rights of older citizens.^[8]
• On June 17, 2006, a flock of about thirty sheep was driven across the Millennium Bridge to mark the start of London Architecture Week.^[9]
• On August 31, 2008, Amanda Cottrell, a former High Sheriff of the City, marched six rams across London Bridge to promote fundraising for the restoration of Canterbury Cathedral and "a scheme backing local food production"^[10]
• On September 17, 2008, the Lord Mayor and some 500 Freemen drove a flock of Romney ewes in relay across the bridge to raise funds for the Lord Mayor's charities (Orbis and Wellbeing of Women).^[11]

Prior to 1996, the Freedom was only open to British or Commonwealth Citizens over 21 years of age and of good character. There is a long-standing tradition of admitting women, who used to be called 'free sisters' but who are now also called Freemen.

Other UK cities

The status of Freeman is still thriving in many towns and cities in the United Kingdom. Each town or city where the admission of Freemen is carried out has its own regulations and customs for admission, and the fact that it is still taken seriously is evidenced by the promotion of a Local Act of Parliament, the Beverley Freemen Act 2010, to extend the categories of people entitled to be Freemen of the town of Beverley in the East Riding of Yorkshire.^[12]

The qualifications for borough freedom differ between each city or town, but generally fall into two categories, 'patrimony' (inheritance) and 'servitude' (apprenticeship). For example, in Chester and York, only the children or grandchildren (or great grandchildren in York) (male or female) of freemen may apply for admission. In York, apprenticeship to a freeman of the city will also allow admission though now rare, it has been used as recently as 2000.^[13] In Great Grimsby, the widow of a freeman passes his rights to her second husband who retains the privilege after either divorce from or death of the widow. The borough freedom is strongest in York, Chester, Newcastle upon Tyne and Coventry, in the last named freedom is qualified by having served an apprenticeship. In England, Durham and Northampton have extended their admission criteria to those who have served an apprenticeship without being 'bound' (trained by) by a Freeman directly.

Full information is available at the local authority of each city where Freemen are created.

Ireland

In Ireland, borough freedom of the city is generally given to noted foreign and national dignitaries and the list rarely exceeds a few dozen. The cities of Ireland generally give various privileges, for instance Dublin allows the right to vote in certain elections, bring goods for sale in the city without customs and the right to pasture sheep on common ground such as College Green and St. Stephen's Green.

Civic honour

In contemporary society, the award of honorary freedom of the city or borough tends to be entirely ceremonial, given by the local government in many towns and cities on those who have served in some exceptional capacity, or upon any whom the city wishes to bestow an honour.

Today, the grant of honorary freedom in the United Kingdom is governed by the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended by the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009). The 1972 Act enabled the councils of cities, royal boroughs, boroughs, and parishes (or, in Wales, communities) with the status of a royal town, to confer the status of honorary freeman on "persons of distinction and persons who have, in the opinion of the council, rendered eminent services" to the local area.^[14] The 2009 Act extends the ability to grant the status of Freeman to any county, city, district, borough, town, parish or community council (so removing the requirement for the town to have 'royal' status, and also enabling county councils to confer the honour).^[15] A special meeting of the council can grant the honour by passing a resolution with a two thirds majority at a specially convened meeting.

The key to the city award is used in many places, in a manner similar to freedom of the city (see below).

Key to the City

The Key to the City is a similar award that is descended from Freedom of the City.^[16] It is used in several countries, but is especially popular in the United States.

An ornamental key is presented to esteemed visitors, residents, or others the city wishes to honor. Evoking medieval walled cities whose gates were guarded during the day and locked at night, the key symbolises the freedom of the recipient to enter and leave the city at will as a trusted friend of city residents.

In some cities in the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany, the key to the city is given to the so-called "Prince carnival" who leads the carnivals which take place the week prior to Septuagesima. The tradition is that the mayor steps down for the days and power is transferred to the prince carnival, who then returns the key at the end of Shrove Tuesday/Mardi Gras. Today, the handing over of the key is mostly symbolic and marks the start and end of the carnival.

In Calgary, Alberta, Canada, instead of a key, esteemed visitors receive a white Smithbilt^[17] cowboy hat and usually recite one of two oaths (one formal, the other more silly) to become honorary Calgarians.^[18]

Military freedom of the city

Australia

Adelaide, South Australia

• No. 24 Squadron RAAF

Sydney

• Royal Australian Navy: March 14, 2009^[19]

Maitland, New South Wales

• HMAS Maitland (ACPB 88): 2006^[20]

Canada

Airdrie, Alberta

• Calgary Highlanders

Banff, Alberta

• National Army Cadet Summer Training Centre (formerly BNACC)

Calgary, Alberta

• 14 (Calgary) Service Battalion
• Calgary Highlanders: 1956
• King's Own Calgary Regiment
• Lord Strathcona's Horse (Royal Canadians)
• HMCS Calgary
• 4 Wing Cold Lake: May 11, 1999^[21]
• HMCS Tecumseh

Courtenay, British Columbia

• HMCS Quadra: 2008

Edmonton, Alberta

• The Loyal Edmonton Regiment (4th Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry)

Halifax, Nova Scotia

• Princess Louise Fusiliers
• Maritime Forces Atlantic

Hamilton, Ontario

• HMCS Star (Naval Reserve)
• Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders of Canada
• Royal Hamilton Light Infantry

Kelowna, British Columbia

• British Columbia Dragoons: February 11, 1963^[22]

Kingston, Ontario

• Royal Military College of Canada: 1976^[23]
• HMCS Cataraqui

London, Ontario

• The Royal Canadian Regiment (1st Battalion) 1980^[24]

Montreal, Quebec

• Canadian Grenadier Guards
• Le Régiment de Maisonneuve
• 3rd Field Engineer Regiment (34 CER)
• The Royal Canadian Hussars (Montreal)
• The Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) of Canada
• 438 Tactical Helicopter Squadron
• HMCS Montreal

New Westminster, British Columbia

• Royal Westminster Regiment, then called the Westminster Regiment, on 1963 May 24
• HMCS Discovery, on October 3, 2010

Ottawa, Ontario

• The Royal Canadian Regiment (1st Battalion) 1953
• The Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa: 1969^[25]
• 26/28 Service Battalion: 2009
• HMCS Carleton: October 16, 2010

Quebec City, Quebec

• Royal 22^e Régiment

Richmond, British Columbia

• 12 (Vancouver) Service Company, then called 12 Service Battalion on 17 April 1993

Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

• HMCS Unicorn

Toronto, Ontario

• 48th Highlanders of Canada
• The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada: 1948
• The Toronto Scottish Regiment (Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother's Own)
• HMCS Toronto

Trenton, Ontario

• Trenton Air Cadet Summer Training Centre

Uxbridge, Ontario

• UNICEF Team Canada: 2008^[26]

Waterloo, Ontario

• 31 Combat Engineer Regiment^[27]

Vancouver, British Columbia

• 15th Field Artillery Regiment, RCA: 1977^[28]
• 12 (Vancouver) Field Ambulance: 2007^[29]
• British Columbia Regiment: 1983 ^[30]

Vegreville, Alberta

• 41 Combat Engineer Regiment (From predecessor unit)

Vernon, British Columbia^[31]

• Vernon Army Cadet Summer Training Centre August 4, 1979

Victoria, British Columbia^[32]

• Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry (3rd Battalion)
• HMCS Malahat
• Maritime Forces Pacific
• 5th (British Columbia) Field Artillery Regiment, RCA
• The Canadian Scottish Regiment (Princess Mary's)
• Major-General, The Honourable George Randolph Pearkes, V.C.
• Royal Roads Military College

Winnipeg, Manitoba^[33]

• Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry (2nd Battalion) 1989
• Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry (2nd Battalion) October 13, 1995
• HMCS Chippawa May 5, 1985
• Royal Winnipeg Rifles June 4, 1983
• CFB Winnipeg October 1992^[34]

Rhodesia

Bulawayo

• Rhodesian African Rifles September 5, 1964^[35]
• Royal Rhodesia Regiment September 5, 1964^[35]

Salisbury

• Rhodesia Regiment July 1968
• Rhodesian Air Force May 25, 1971^[36]
• Rhodesian Light Infantry July 25, 1975^[37]

United Kingdom

Aberdeen

• Royal Regiment of Scotland^[38]

Bangor

• The Royal Welsh^[39]

Bath

• 21st Signal Regiment (Air Support)^[40]

Birmingham

• Grenadier Guards^[41]
• Coldstream Guards^[41]
• Scots Guards^[41]
• Welsh Guards^[41]
• Irish Guards^[41]
• The Royal British Legion

Bradford

• The Yorkshire Regiment^[42]

Brighton

• Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment^[43]

Bristol

• 266 (Gloucestershire Volunteer Artillery) Battery, Royal Artillery (Volunteers)
• 57 (City and County of Bristol) Squadron, Royal Corps of Signals (Volunteers)

Basildon

• The Royal Anglian Regiment^[44]

Canterbury

• The Royal Regiment of Scotland^[45]

Chester

• 1st Battalion The Royal Welsh
• HMS Albion

Crewe and Nantwich

• 1st Battalion The Mercian Regiment (Cheshire)

Ely

• The Royal Anglian Regiment^[46]

Epsom

• The Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment^[47]

Exeter

• The Coldstream Guards^[48]

Glasgow

• The Highland Light Infantry^[49]

Gloucester

• The Rifles^[50]

Gravesend

• The Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment^[51]

Harlow

• Essex Yeomanry ^[52]

Ipswich

• HMS Quorn
• The Royal Anglian Regiment<^[53]

Islington

• The Honourable Artillery Company^[54]

Kingston upon Thames

• The Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment
• 256 (City of London) Field Hospital (Volunteers)^[55]

Knowsley

• The Duke of Lancaster's Regiment^[56]

Lancaster

• King's Own Royal Regiment^[57]

Leicester

• 9th/12th Royal Lancers^[58]

Lisburn

• The Royal Irish Regiment^[59]

Lincoln

• The Grenadier Guards^[60]

City of Liverpool

• The Duke of Lancaster's Regiment

City of London

• HMS Westminster^[61]
• The Royal Marines^[62]
• The Honourable Artillery Company^[63]
• The Grenadier Guards^[60]
• The Buffs (Royal East Kent Regiment)^[64]
• The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers^[65]
• Parachute Regiment^[66]
• 600 (City of London) Squadron RAuxAF^[67]

Loughborough

• The Royal Anglian Regiment^[68]

Manchester

• 207 (Manchester) Field Hospital (Volunteers)^[69]

Nottingham

• 73rd Engineer Regiment (Volunteers)
• East Midlands Universities Air Squadron^[70]

Peterborough

• 158 (Royal Anglian) Transport Regiment, Royal Logistic Corps (Volunteers)^[71]

Portsmouth

• Portsmouth Command of the Royal Navy^[72]
• HMS King Alfred^[72]
• HMS Endurance^[72]
• The Royal Marines^[72]

Plymouth

• The Royal Naval Reserve
• The Rifles^[73]

Preston

• The Loyal Regiment (North Lancashire) August 7, 1952 (This was subsequently transferred to:)
  • The Queen's Lancashire Regiment September 9, 1972^[74]
  • The Duke of Lancaster's Regiment July 1, 2006

Ribble Valley

• Duke of Lancaster's Regiment^[75]

Ripon

• The Royal Engineers^[76]

St Edmundsbury, East Anglia

• The 3 Regiment Army Air Corps (Wattisham), June 22, 2010.

Salford

• Lancashire Fusiliers ^[77]

Stockport

• The Mercian Regiment^[78]

Tameside

• The Duke of Lancaster's Regiment^[79]

Telford

• The Rifles^[80]
• Tonbridge
• The Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment^[81]

Wakefield

• The Yorkshire Regiment^[82]
• The Rifles^[83]

Winchester

• Winchester Army Training Regiment^[84]

Worthing

• the Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment^[85]

York

• The Royal Dragoon Guards^[86]

Notable non-military awards of 'freedom of the city' and 'key to the city'

Australia

Canberra, Australian Capital Territory

'Freedom of the City' or 'Key to the City' has been granted twice in recent history.

• 2001: Royal Military College Duntroon During that year's GMC 400
• 2006: April 1 Scout Association of Australia, ACT Branch in recognition of the branch's 25th Anniversary

Albania

Tirana

• 1995: Norman Wisdom^[87]

Canada

Keys exist in Brampton, Burnaby, Mississauga, Toronto, Winnipeg, Windsor, and Vancouver. Winnipeg also offered honorary citizenship, while Calgary's ceremony is the White Hat Ceremony.

Colombia

Bogotá

Key to the city:

• March 30, 1994: Cheddi Jagan, President of Guyana.^[88]
• March 8, 2000: Abderrahmane Youssoufi, Prime Minister of Morocco.^[89]
• April 24, 2000: David de Ferranti, World Bank vicepresident.^[90]
• July 12, 2000: Nicolás Léoz, President of CONMEBOL.^[91]
• April 5, 2001: Vicente Fox, President of Mexico.^[92]
• May 3, 2001: Hugo Chávez, President of Venezuela.^[93]
• November 11, 2003: Ricardo Maduro, President of Honduras.^[94]
• December 2, 2003: Jorge Batlle Ibáñez, President of Uruguay.^[95]
• March 29, 2004: Chavela Vargas, Mexican singer.^[96]
• April 14, 2004: Alejandro Toledo, President of Peru.^[97]
• July 21, 2004: Felipe González, Prime Minister of Spain.^[98]
• October 11, 2004: Didier Borotra, Member of the Senate of France.^[99]
• November 16, 2004: Óscar Berger, President of Guatemala.^[100]
• March 30, 2005: José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, Prime Minister of Spain.^[101]
• September 1, 2005: Ricardo Lagos, President of Chile.^[102]
• November 2, 2005: Leonel Fernández, President of the Dominican Republic.^[103]
• December 13, 2005: Lula da Silva, President of Brazil.^[104]
• March 12, 2007: Horst Köhler, President of Germany.^[105]
• March 17, 2008: Angela Merkel, Chancellor of Germany.^[106]
• May 27, 2009: Felipe de Borbón, Prince of Asturias.^[107]
• August 13, 2009: Felipe Calderón, President of Mexico.^[108]
• August 15, 2009: Hilary Duff, American actress and singer.^[109]
• March 23, 2010: Oscar Arias, President of Costa Rica.^[110]
• July 9, 2010: Princess Haya of Jordan.^[111]

Republic of Ireland

Dublin, Ireland

See also Freedom of Dublin City

• Nelson Mandela
• Bill Clinton
• Bono
• The Edge
• Adam Clayton
• Larry Mullen Jr.
• Derek Kelly

Galway, Ireland

• John F. Kennedy

United Kingdom

Aberdeen, Scotland

Aberdeen has a long history of bestowing the honour. See Freedom of the City of Aberdeen for details.

Bath, England

• Amy Williams the first female to receive the honour in Bath.

Bradford, England

• J. B. Priestley was awarded the Freedom of Bradford.
• August 17, 2011: Bands of the West Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service and Bridgewater (Nova Scotia, Canada) Fire Department

Bury St Edmunds, England

• Actor Ian McShane was given freedom of the borough in 1996 after he played the title role in the television series Lovejoy, filmed in and around Bury.

Cardiff, Wales

• June 16, 1998: Nelson Mandela, former South Africa President and anti-apartheid activist^[112]
• April 10, 2006: Sir Tasker Watkins, former president of the WRU and Glamorgan Wanderers. He was awarded the Victoria Cross for his efforts in the second world war.^[113]

Derby, England

• 2003: former Derby County football manager Brian Clough.

Douglas, Isle of Man

• Musicians The Bee Gees given freedom of the city in June 2009.

Durham, England

• December 8, 2008: Sir Bobby Robson received the Freedom of the City of Durham in honour of his services to football and charitable work. Robson was born in Sacriston, County Durham and went on to manage several successful football clubs across Europe including PSV Eindhoven, Sporting Lisbon, FC Porto, FC Barcelona and Newcastle United.

Ipswich, England

• May 5, 2008: Sir Bobby Robson received the Freedom of the Borough of Ipswich. Robson won the FA Cup in 1978 with Ipswich Town. Robson also went on to manage England.

Kingston upon Hull, England

• Recipients of Freedom of the City of Hull include:
  • 1999: Archbishop Desmond Tutu, when he was invited to give the annual Wilberforce Lecture in Kingston upon Hull, commemorating the life and achievements of the anti-slavery campaigner William Wilberforce. Tutu used the occasion to praise the people of the city for their traditional support of freedom and for standing with the people of South Africa in their fight against apartheid.

Frome, England

• May 4, 2010: Formula One driver Jenson Button received the freedom of the town, following his victory in the 2009 World Drivers' Championship.

Leeds, England

• April 30, 2001: Nelson Mandela

Liverpool, England

• Recipients of Freedom of the City of Liverpool include:
  • April 30, 1970: Elizabeth Margaret Braddock, better known as Bessie Braddock, Liverpool-born British Labour politician.
  • November 23, 1983: Bob Paisley, best known for being one of the most successful managers in English football history whilst managing his only team Liverpool Football Club in the 1970s and 1980s.
  • March 7, 1984: George Harrison, Liverpool-born rock guitarist, singer, songwriter, author and sitarist best known as the lead guitarist of The Beatles.
  • March 7, 1984: John Lennon, Liverpool-born songwriter, singer, musician, graphic artist, author and political activist, one of the founders of The Beatles. (Posthumous)
  • March 7, 1984: Paul McCartney, Liverpool-born songwriter, singer, musician, graphic artist, author and political activist, one of the founders of The Beatles.
  • March 7, 1984: Ringo Starr, real name Richard Starkey Jr, Liverpool-born musician, singer, songwriter and actor, best known as the drummer of The Beatles.
  • July 6, 1994: Nelson Mandela, 11th President of South Africa.
  • September 14, 2008: Duke of Lancaster's Regiment Soldiers returning from duty in Iraq and Afghanistan were awarded freedom of the city in recognition of their bravery and sacrifice.
  • September 30, 2008: Sir Simon Rattle Conductor awarded Freedom of Liverpool. He was presented with the honour by the Lord Mayor, Councillor Steve Rotheram.
  • April 15, 2009: Families of the victims of the Hillsborough disaster were given this honour in a ceremony recognising the 20th anniversary of the event.
  • August 28, 2003: New York City Awarded the Freedom of The City of Liverpool.

London, England

• Freedom of the City of London awarded to Charles Lindbergh.
• 1995: Freedom of the City of London granted to Norman Wisdom.^[87]
• 2005: Freedom of the City of London granted to Luciano Pavarotti.^[114]
• 2008: Freedom of the City of London granted to Otto von Habsburg.^[115]
• 2010: Freedom of the City of London granted to Barbara Windsor^[116]

Manchester, England

• October 6, 1899: Mrs Enriqueta Augustina Rylands
• June 15, 1906: Businessman and Liberal Member of Parliament Sir William John Crossley was presented with a key on June 15, in honour of the Stamford Park County School. He was made a baronet later the same year. He, with his brother Francis, founded the pioneering locomotive company Crossley and the (now defunct) car manufacturer Crossley Motors and was a Director of the Manchester Ship Canal.
• 1907: James W. Southern, another director of the Manchester Ship Canal, was presented with the Freedom of the City in the form of a silver casket and scroll.
• 1974: Nellie Beer
• October 31, 1977: Astronomer Sir Bernard Lovell was presented with the Freedom of the City in the form of a simple salver.
• 1984: Dame Kathleen Ollerenshaw
• March 2, 2009: Sir Bobby Charlton was awarded the Freedom for promoting the city of Manchester.
• November 2, 2009: UK Olympic Cycling Team in recognition of their achievements

Norwich

• 2011 Paul Lambert, manager of Norwich City FC, after steering the club to two back-to-back promotions from League One to the Premier League.

Nottingham

• 1920 Jesse Boot, founder of Boots the Chemist

Plymouth

• March 22, 2009: The Merchant Navy

Preston, England

• 1997: Nick Park was awarded the Freedom of Preston for his Oscar-winning Wallace and Gromit films.
• 2005: Andrew Flintoff was awarded the Freedom of Preston for his contribution in the Ashes Series.

Portsmouth, England

• October 28, 2008: Former Portsmouth F.C. manager Harry Redknapp was made a freeman of the city for his achievements in leading Portsmouth to the FA Cup in 2007-8.^[117] Ironically he had left Portsmouth for Tottenham Hotspur 2 days earlier and he was booed by fans at the presentation.

Romsey, England

• July 14, 2009: Soldiers from the 1st Battalion (Armored Tigers) of the Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment were given the Freedom of Romsey for their service in Iraq and Afghanistan. The ceremony followed a parade held to welcome the unit home. Technically, the PWRR already had the Freedom of Romsey, as it inherited it from the Royal Hampshire Regiment as a result of the 1992 Options for Change merger with the Queen's Regiment.^[118]

Salford, England

• January 7, 2010: Manchester United footballer Ryan Giggs was awarded freedom of the city for "exceptional contributions to the city".^[119]

Sheffield, England

• 2005: Winning Captain Michael Vaughan was awarded Freedom of the City for his contribution in the Ashes Series.
• March 8, 2006: Aung San Suu Kyi, winner of the Nobel Peace Prize was granted martial Freedom of the City, ironically, in recognition of her non-violent work against the military dictatorship in Burma.^[3]

Jamaica

Kingston, Jamaica

• This award is given by the Kingston and St. Andrew Cooperation (KSAC) in collaboration with the Mayor of Kingston and St. Andrew. It is given to outstanding individuals, who did or continue to make a mark in the city of Kingston. This person or group must meet certain criteria, and display outstanding ability and commitment to building the city and nation. This award is the highest award given by a city/parish.
  • April 23, 2006: Bishop, Hon. Dr. Carmen L. Stewart, OD, JP, Custos Rotorulum of St. Andrew, Jamaica.

Japan

Tokyo

• Recipients of the Key to the Metropolis of Tokyo include:
  • Helen Keller^[120]
  • Dr. Leon Picon, one of the founding members of the Assembly of Turkish American Associations and a former Secretary-General.
  • Paul E. Ruestow, U.S. Major General^[121]
  • Bill Effinger, former Mayor of Buena Park, California, 1959.^[122]
  • John Glenn, presented by Tokyo Gov. Rotaro Azuma on May 30, 1963.^[123]
  • Francis Sumner Carruth, Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Air Force. His management skills played an important role in heading off a labor strike in Tokyo.^[124]
  • Dr. Albert M. Schwartz, a vascular surgeon and a Colonel in the US Army.

Puerto Rico

• 1984: Wilfred Benitez, the three time world boxing champion, received the keys to the city of Carolina, after his victory over Stacy McSwain.

United States

Viscount Cornbury received a "Freedom of the City" for New York in 1702,^[125] and in 1871, Chicago handed out its earliest known Freedom, to Grand Duke Alexei Alexandrovich of Russia.^[126]

Among the more unusual recipients are Iraqi President Saddam Hussein (Detroit, 1980), Sam Born, for inventing a machine that mechanically inserted sticks into lollipops (San Francisco, 1916), and "Scarlett's Magic" (Corona, 2010), a cat listed in the 2011 Guinness Book of World Records as World's Tallest Cat.

References

External links

• Guild of Freemen of the City of London
• City of London's Freedom of the City
• The Gild of Freemen of the City of York
• Military Context of "Freedom of the City"(broken link)
• Royal Engineers Museum Freedoms granted to the Royal Engineers
• Freemen of the City of Liverpool
• What Can You Open With a Key to the City? Capt. Sully Sullenberger just got a key to New York. Can I call him if I lock myself out? By Juliet Lapidos. SLATE. February 10, 2009.
• Guinness Cat