Guild of Young Freemen

Last updated

The Guild of Young Freemen of the City of London [1] is a membership organisation that connects young individuals associated with the traditions of the Freedom of the City in the City of London. The organisation has been partnered with the Order of Saint John since 2024. [2]

Contents

Guild of Young Freemen of the City of London
AbbreviationGuild of Young Freemen
Formation7 December 1976;49 years ago (1976-12-07)
Founder Sir Robin Gillett, Bt.
HeadquartersBlackwell House, Guildhall Yard, London EC2V 5AE [3]
Location
  • London, England, United Kingdom
Master
Michael Polak [4]
Key people
 William Hunt, Alderman Alastair King DL
Affiliations Order of St. John, St John Eye Hospital Group, London Area Sea Cadets
Website youngfreemen.org
Formerly called
Society of Young Freemen of the City of London

Founded in 1976 as the Society of Young Freemen of the City of London during the Lord Mayoralty of Sir Robin Gillett Bt, [5] the Guild was founded to provide a platform for young professionals to engage with the civic and historical traditions of the City. Over time, it has developed into a forum that fosters engagement with London’s heritage while supporting professional and community activities. The Guild is open to young professionals under the age of 40 and seeks to encourage greater participation in the customs and institutions of the City of London. [6]

The Guild's current honorary president, Lord Mayor of London Alastair John Naisbitt King, presided over the Installation Banquet of the Young Freemen held at Mansion House on 13 January 2026.

History

Formation

In the mid-1970s, the City of London Corporation exploring ways to involve younger people in the City’s civic life and encourage them to become Freemen. Internal discussions, led by the Corporation’s Policy and Parliamentary Committee and its Public Relations Sub-Committee, highlighted the need for an organised forum for young Freemen. In 1976, a working group of five Court members of the Guild of Freemen (the association of City Freemen), together with City Corporation representatives and a number of younger Freemen, met several times to develop this idea. [5] These early committee deliberations culminated in a proposal to create a new body specifically for young Freemen, with the support of the Lord Mayor and the Corporation. By late 1976, the framework was in place for what was initially envisioned as a "Society" of young Freemen, dedicated to engaging the next generation in the heritage and traditions of the City.

The Society of Young Freemen

The official formation of the Society of Young Freemen of the City of London took place at an inaugural meeting on 7 December 1976 at Mansion House, [5] launched under the auspices of the then Lord Mayor, Sir Robin Gillett Bt (who served as the Society’s first Patron). The Society’s stated aim was "to promote an interest in and the interests of the City of London among Freemen of the City" – in practice, to increase the participation of young Freemen and Liverymen in City affairs and traditions. [5]

Early leadership of the Society was drawn from young City Freemen: June Evans served as the first chairman in 1976–77. She was followed by William Hunt and (Margaret) "Penny" Lewis – later known as Penny Harrison, among others, who together shaped the Society's direction in its formative years.

From the outset, the Lord Mayor agreed to act as Patron of the Society, and successive Lord Mayors continued this patronage tradition. The Society of Young Freemen quickly became active in the City's calendar: it held annual dinners and social events, arranged educational visits, and encouraged its members’ involvement in historic ceremonies. Within a few years, the Society was recognised as a training ground for future Livery company members and City leaders, with several alumni later serving as Livery Masters, City officers, and even Lord Mayors. [5]

The Guild of Young Freemen

In 2015, the Society adopted the name Guild of Young Freemen to better reflect City traditions. The Guild remains distinct from the older Guild of Freemen of the City of London, which was founded in 1908. [7]

Current activities

Members of the Guild regularly participate in major City events. It maintains a ceremonial role in the annual Lord Mayor's Show, where its members traditionally escort the wickerwork giants Gog and Magog through the City, in collaboration with the Worshipful Company of Basketmakers. [8] [9] [10]

The Guild also contributes volunteer marshals to the annual Sheep Drive across London Bridge, a charitable event organised by the Worshipful Company of Woolmen which recreates the traditional right of Freemen to drive sheep over the Thames toll-free. [11] [12] [13]

In addition to its ceremonial roles, the Guild hosts lectures, inter-livery networking events, and formal dinners throughout the year. [14] [15]

It has partnered with modern City of London livery companies such as the Worshipful Company of Information Technologists, [16] and supported other civic activities like the Lord Mayor's Big Curry Lunch. [17]

Governance

On 28 November 2025, the Guild of Young Freemen of the City of London was incorporated as a private company limited by guarantee. [18] The organisation’s Articles of Association define its objects as promoting participation in the civic affairs and traditions of the City of London and acting as an "incubator for prospective leadership." The constitution mandates that the Master and Wardens must be Freemen of the City of London and establishes a formal disciplinary framework, including a Disciplinary Court and adherence to the City of London Corporation's Code of Conduct. [19]

Affiliations

Military

The Guild like other livery companies has military affiliations, and has been involved in activities with the London Area Sea Cadets, including attendance at joint ceremonial functions. [20]

Charitable

The Guild is affiliated with international humanitarian organisations including Saint John Eye Hospital Group, [21] and the Order of St. John. [22] [21]

Notable members

Members of the Guild have gone on to become liverymen, common councillors, and officers of City institutions.

Guild members include:

List of honorary presidents

Past Masters

The presiding officer of the Society of Young Freemen was originally styled President. Following the adoption of the name the Guild of Young Freemen the title Master was adopted. [28]

Presidents and Masters of the Guild of Young Freemen

TermOfficeholderNotes
1976–1977June Rodgers
1977–1978William Hunt
1978–1979Penny Lewis (later known as Penny Harrison)
1980–1981Richard Ratner
1981–1982Catherine Gay (née Wilson)
1982–1983John Hill
1983–1984Claire Cross
1984–1985Ken Craig
1985–1986Sally Anne Hill
1986–1987Gwilym Morgan
1987–1988David Foster
1988–1989Jonathan Gollow
1989–1990Howard Pearson
1990–1991Heather Hall (née Marshall)
1991–1992Peter Tompkins
1992–1993Ian Clark
1993–1994Malcolm Johnston
1994–1995Stephen Plumb
1995–1996David McGurk
1996–1997Piers Llewelyn Jones
1997–1998Michael Cooper OBE
1998–1999Vicki Welch (née Hill)
1999–2000Fiona Donovan
2000–2001Ray Catt, CC
2001–2002Clare James, CC (née Cue)
2002–2003Michael Snow
2003–2004Nigel Hall
2004–2005Nigel James
2005–2006Jason McCreanne
2006–2007Robert Scriven
2007–2008Toby Locke
2008–2009Michael Wadood
2009–2010Georgina Hajdu
2010–2011Victoria Lloyd
2011–2012Govind Ratnam
2012–2013David Double
2013–2016Laurence NicolasExtended term
2016–2017James St John Davies (né Bromiley-Davies)
2017–2018Omar Asfar
2018–2019Rafe Henry Clutton
2019–2020Anjola Adeniyi
2020–2022Louise StarlingExtended term due to the COVID-19 pandemic
2022–2023Rhys Jones
2023–2024Samuel Chadd
2024–2025Grace Abba
2025–2026Reuben Braden-BellResigned 21 January 2026 [29]
January 2026–PresentMichael Polak

Guild Church

References

  1. 1 2 "The Guild of Young Freemen of the City of London". Livery Committee. Retrieved 14 May 2025.
  2. ↑ Jess (3 December 2024). "The Guild of Young Freemen Announce Landmark Partnership with SJEHG". St John International. Retrieved 20 January 2026.
  3. ↑ "Guild of Young Freemen of the City of London Ltd". Companies House. UK Government. Retrieved 27 January 2026.
  4. ↑ "The Master, Wardens, and Past Masters". Guild of Young Freemen of the City of London. Retrieved 27 January 2026.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 James, Clare (12 October 2015). "THE ORIGINS OF THE SOCIETY OF YOUNG FREEMEN" (PDF). Guildhall Historical Association. Retrieved 9 March 2025.
  6. ↑ "Become a Freeman". Worshipful Company of Educators. 3 July 2018. Retrieved 10 April 2025.
  7. ↑ "Guild of Freemen of the City of London". Guild of Freemen. Retrieved 16 May 2025.
  8. ↑ "2023 Procession – Lord Mayor's Show" . Retrieved 16 May 2025.
  9. ↑ "2024 Procession". Lord Mayor’s Show. Archived from the original on 14 March 2025. Retrieved 9 March 2025.
  10. ↑ "The Lord Mayor's Show". BBC. 9 November 2024. Archived from the original on 14 March 2025. Retrieved 9 March 2025.
  11. ↑ "Freemen drive sheep across London Bridge". The Guardian. 26 September 2021. Retrieved 16 May 2025.[ dead link ]
  12. ↑ "Sheep Drive Across London Bridge 2015". The Worshipful Company of Woolmen. 23 February 2015. Retrieved 9 March 2025.
  13. ↑ "About". Sheep Drive & Livery Fair. Archived from the original on 8 March 2025. Retrieved 9 March 2025.
  14. ↑ "Young liverymen compete at annual City quiz". Worshipful Company of Bakers. 20 February 2025. Retrieved 16 May 2025.
  15. ↑ "Young Livery Inter-Livery Quiz 2024". Worshipful Company of Tallow Chandlers. 15 February 2024. Retrieved 16 May 2025.
  16. ↑ "News". The Worshipful Company of Information Technologists. Retrieved 10 April 2025.
  17. ↑ Master, The Web (23 May 2023). "Report on the Lord Mayor's Big Curry Lunch 2023". Livery Committee. Retrieved 16 May 2025.
  18. ↑ "THE GUILD OF YOUNG FREEMEN OF THE CITY OF LONDON overview". Companies House. Retrieved 13 January 2026.
  19. ↑ "Articles of Association: The Guild of Young Freemen of the City of London". Companies House. 28 November 2025. Retrieved 13 January 2026.
  20. ↑ "Affiliated Cadet Groups". Royal Society of St George. Archived from the original on 14 March 2025. Retrieved 16 May 2025.
  21. 1 2 Jess (3 December 2024). "The Guild of Young Freemen Announce Landmark Partnership with SJEHG". St John International. Retrieved 10 April 2025.
  22. ↑ "Latest News | Page 4 of 31". St John International. Retrieved 10 April 2025.
  23. 1 2 "Next City Lord Mayor Elected". City of London Corporation. Retrieved 16 May 2025.
  24. ↑ "Transcript of interview: Sir Brian Jenkins" (PDF). Archives of IT. Retrieved 14 May 2025.
  25. ↑ "Anthony Bailey OBE addresses The Society of Young Freemen of the City of London - Anthony Bailey Consulting". 30 May 2014.
  26. ↑ "David Wootton". Gresham College. Retrieved 14 May 2025.
  27. ↑ "Silent Ceremony 2024". Young Freemen. Retrieved 14 May 2025.
  28. ↑ "Past Masters". Guild of Young Freemen. Retrieved 4 February 2026.
  29. ↑ "Reuben Braden-Bell – Officer appointments". Companies House. Retrieved 4 February 2026.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.