A ninety-year-old widow, determined to maintain her family’s long-standing family connections with the Durham City Freemen, was officially sworn in at the Martinmas Guild Day in the town hall. Great grandmother Anne Pearson followed in the footsteps of her grandfather, father, two brothers and brother-in-law when she became a member of the Plumbers’ Company. “I […]
Norman Donkin, who has died aged 96 was born in Gilesgate and moved to Crossgate when he was about 6 years old. He attended the Blue Coat School and excelled in sport, particularly football. He could have made a professional career in football if it had not been for the war, where he served in […]
One of Durham City’s best known and widely respected lawyers has agreed to take on the role of chairman of the freemen’s trustees. Solicitor Norman Hart succeeds Roger Norris, Durham’s Cathedral former deputy librarian, who stepped down in the summer after 20 years in the chair. Seventy-one-year-old Mr Hart was, until he retired two years […]
The chairman of the wardens, John Heslop, is stepping down after playing a pivotal role in one of the most successful periods in the freemen’s post World War Two history. The announcement of John’s departure took colleagues by surprise and his last official function, the trustees and wardens meeting on December 4, will mark, almost […]
A former apprentice at Durham Cathedral says he cannot thank the Durham City Freemen enough, after they sponsored his training to become a qualified joiner. Peter Bennett has just been employed full time as a joiner by Durham Cathedral having undertaken a three year-long apprenticeship with the Cathedral’s works yard team. Peter said: “I was […]
Durham City Freemen held their Annual Dinner on 3 October. There were 60 guests which included local Freemen and their guests as well as others from around the country. We were also joined by friends from other Guilds and by representatives of the Freemen of England and Wales. We were delighted to welcome the Worshipful […]
On Wednesday 26th August Phillip, 31, and Richard Milbourne, 29, from North Elmham in Norfolk and Freeman of the City of Durham, rode into Upton Park, home of West Ham United, to complete an epic 2,200 mile, thirty-one day challenge of riding to all Premier and Football League grounds in the country. In all they […]
Grandmother, Helen Gent, reinforced her family’s long-standing ties with the freemen at a unique ceremony, following a working life that has brought her full circle. Helen, now 65 and retired, left Whinney Hill School to join a well-known city travel agent – before moving to London where she worked in hotels before becoming an au […]
A woman, who has played a key supporting role behind the scenes for more than a decade, has been afforded the honour of becoming Durham’s first Lady Freeman. Grandmother Doris McElwee was officially sworn-in at the May Day Guild Day – joining the eight men who make up the small but select band of Gentlemen […]
Retired field service engineer Barry Shotton was admitted into the Cordwainers’Company at the May Day Guild Day. Sixty-eight-year-old Barry started his working life in 1961 as an apprentice electrician with Durham Rural District Council and went on to work underground at Eppleton Colliery before joining Lansing Bagnall, where he remained until his retirement. He lives […]