David Todd Born: 3 June 1949; Died: 17 January 2022. David became a Freeman in February 1971 following the death of his father David (Known as Leslie). He proudly displayed both certificates on his wall and enjoyed meeting fellow freemen at the last dinner held pre-COVID. David spent most of his working life with Barclays […]
Roger Norris 1941 – 2021Gentleman Freeman, and Chairman of Trustees 1995-2015 At the time of his retirement as chair of the Freemen trustees in 2015, Roger’s peers recorded the significant contribution Roger had made to the ‘re-birth’ of the city’s Freemen. Ever modest about his own role, Roger instead cited the energy and vision of […]
Elections to fill key positions within the ranks of the Durham City Freemen have produced a notable hat-trick of firsts. Elections to fill key positions within the ranks of the Durham City Freemen have produced a notable hat-trick of firsts. Mac Williams, recently voted in as Warden of the Butchers’ Company, is believed to be […]
Dozens of trees, felled ahead of preparatory work on the county council’s new riverside headquarters in the heart of Durham, have been replaced under a local partnership scheme enthusiastically supported by the city’s freemen. A total of 70 deciduous trees were felled before building work could start on the controversial development which was opposed by […]
Three leading community figures have taken up rarely offered invitations to join the ranks of the Durham City Freemen – providing them the opportunity to initially support the organisation and then offer themselves for election to undertake key leadership roles. Admission into the freemen’s eight surviving guilds is regulated by a strict criteria thought to […]
Mark and Rachel Vest’s decision to honour their father’s memory, by following him into the Drapers’ Company nearly 20 years after his death, has created what is believed to be a modern-day milestone. When the duo swore their oath of allegiance at the Martinmas Guild Day (November 11th) they swelled the ranks of the Vest […]
Seventy-two-year-old John, the latest city craftsman to join the Plumbers’ Company, lives on the outskirts of Durham with his wife Ivy, and started his working life in 1963 working as an apprentice for Fred Dennison. He stayed for five years before moving on to work for other plumbing companies in Durham. PLUMBER’S JOB SWITCH HELPED […]
Family folk-lore suggests two brothers’ links with Durham City’s Freemen may stretch back to the 14thcentury Battle of Neville’s Cross. But extensive research into the lineage of James Watson-Lee and younger brother Alex, has only found firm evidence that takes them back to the 1680s. BROTHERS BATTLE TO TRACE FAMILY LINKS TO CITY’S ANCIENT CONFLICT Family […]
Children from St Margaret’s Primary School celebrate the Centenary of a Special Durham Lady, Helena Rosa Duncombe Shafto, OBE at the Town Hall. Durham City Freemen were invited by the DLI to celebrate the Centenary of a Special Durham Lady, Helena Rosa Duncombe Shafto, OBE 1854 – 1938. On 23rdJune 1919 Mrs Shafto was made […]
May Guild Day was held on Monday 13 May 2019 with the Mayor, Councillor John Lethbridge officiating for the last time, as his term as Mayor ends soon and the Mayor elect Counsellor Katie Corrigan will be in place for the Lammas Guild Day in August. May Guild Day13 May 2019 May Guild Day was […]