Obituary - John Reginald Stout
3rd March 2016
A long serving freeman, whose family links to the city’s trade guilds stretch back more than 300 years, died in hospital on February 26th after a long illness.
Read post
Freemen Hit The Right Notes for Musical Extravaganza
1st March 2016
Durham's oldest performing arts company, facing a fight for survival, has been thrown a financial lifeline by the city’s freemen.
Read post
New Member for Drapers Company
8th February 2016
A woman reinforced her family’s long-standing links with Durham City’s ancient trade guilds when she was sworn in as a freeman.
Read post
Flaming 'Eck
2nd February 2016
Cordwainers’ warden, Joe McElwee, was given a particularly warm reception when he arrived at an eco-friendly community project in Durham to formally hand over an £8,000 donation from the City’s Freemen.
Read post
Freemen's trustees impose city centre fishing ban to defeat salmon poachers
24th January 2016
A halt to free fishing, on a stretch of the River Wear in the heart of Durham City, has been authorised by the freemen’s trustees to combat what conservationists have condemned as “salmon and sea trout poaching on an industrial scale.”
Read post
New Warden of the Currier's Company
16th December 2015
Iain Wilmshurst Works Manager at Durham Cathedral is elected new warden of the Currier's Company. Iain was educated at Whinney Hill Secondary School from 1969 until 1974. In June 1974 he joined the staff of Durham Cathedral as an apprentice stonemason. He served under Edward Hughes who was one of the best masons at the cathedral at the time.
Read post
New Interim Chairman of the Wardens
14th November 2015
Eric Bulmer Chairman of the Plumber's Company is elected new Chaiman of the Wardens.
Read post
Great Grandmother and Two Sisters Become Freemen
2nd November 2015
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.
Read post
Obituary - Norman Donkin MBE
30th October 2015
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 the 35th Tank Brigade and and was part of the Expeditionary force that was eventually evacuated from Dunkirk. He also saw active service in North Africa where he was besieged at Tobruk and eventually took part in the D-Day landing.
Read post
New Chairman of Trustees
23rd October 2015
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.
Read post