
Ten people have been awarded the honour of becoming either Freemen or Freewomen of Lancaster.
The list of the new Freemen or Freewomen of the District is as follows:
Robert Ian Bailey
Sally Jayne Barratt
Holly Blackwell
Yvonne Frickel
Mark Hammond
Jeff Thomas Kennedy
Karen Kennedy
Naomi Parsons
Ivan Rex Rostron
Traditionally the honour of becoming a Freeman carried a number of privileges including the right to ‘pasture a limited number of beasts’ on the Marsh, to enter the city free from the payment of tolls and also to bring goods through toll gates for sale at the Lancaster Market.
Nowadays the role carries few rights, but remains popular amongst those who are proud of their heritage.
Both men and women are eligible to apply if they meet one of the following criteria:
• To be the son or daughter of a Freeman or Freewoman.
• To have served an apprenticeship to a Freeman or Freewoman of the City for a period of seven years.
• To have been born within the old city boundaries.
• To have lived within the old city boundaries for a period of seven consecutive years.
In each case, the applicant has to be at least 16 years of age.
The list includes Lancaster musician Holly Blackwell, known as one half of popular band The Lovely Eggs, and Bob Bailey, who is clerk of Carnforth Town Council.
Here is the 2022 list: New Freemen and Freewomen of Lancaster announced - Beyond Radio