Adam's Freedom Ceremony

I walked Xena this morning and then came home and got changed to go to London to join Adam for his Freedom Ceremony to be admitted as a member of the Skinners Company followed by his award of the Freedom of the City.  

Skinners is one of the great livery companies of London which dates back to 1327 when trade in London was controlled through livery companies. These days the livery companies no longer control trades (furriers, silversmiths, tailors, merchants etc) but are involved in charitable work and education. In those days an apprentice learned his trade through his master and once the apprenticeship was completed, usually about 10 years, the apprentice would claim freedom of the City of London at the Guildhall and be presented with a City Freedom scroll - a parchment proving you were made 'Free of the City' - and allowed to trade your goods independently in the City. Nowadays is a four year apprenticeship which is purely a social apprenticeship to learn about the various charitable organisations of the companies, and the Freedom of the City ceremony at Guildhall is still conducted but is purely symbolic. Honorary Freedom is also given to many famous people like Nelson Mandela, international leaders, members of the royal family and prime ministers of the UK. This morning there were three men and four woman admitted as Skinners, and besides admiring all the charitable work these livery companies do, I also like that woman have been allowed as Freemen since medieval times, possibly one of the first non sexist organisations?

This photo was taken at Guildhall after Adam had signed the register. You may ask why the sheep....In medieval times, freemen were allowed to take their sheep into the City and sell them at market without having to pay a toll as they crossed over London Bridge. Today this ancient ceremony is sometimes still carried out as a charity drive.

After the ceremonies Gavin, Adam and I went out for lunch to celebrate. It is also tradition that the Master takes his apprentice for a celebratory drink (Gavin was Adam's master) - no drinking was partaken as Gavin had to rush back to the office and Adam back to Cambridge, but we enjoyed an excellent lunch in a very quiet London city, it was unusually quiet and the streets were not busy at all.

Tomorrow we are expecting rain and very gusty winds. Our electric gate at home is broken and while we are waiting for the new motor to arrive, I have to tie the gate up as in this wind it is swinging about wildly.