Category: News


City Of Durham Teenager Set To Become Britains Youngest Freeman

Teenager Beth Elliott has been sworn in as a Durham Freeman today becoming the youngest ever recipient of the title in the near 700-year history of the city’s ancient trade guilds. It is also believed that Beth’s installation into the Masons’ Company – where she joins her dad John and granddad Bob – will make […]



Annual Dinner 2014

Our Annual Dinner was held on 4 October 2014 in the Town Hall and was another most enjoyable evening. The dinner has been organised single handedly for over 10 years by our Chairman of Trustees, Roger Norris, to whom we all owe a great debt of gratitude. This was the last Dinner that Roger will […]



Tour of Durham Cathedral

With a view to providing opportunities for members of the Plumber’s Company to meet socially in a relaxing and interesting environment, Eric Bulmer, John Booth, Mel Wortley and Haydon Watson of the Plumber’s Company together with Joe McElwee (Cordwainers) and Geof Kitson (Barbers) were met by Nigel Mawson in the restaurant for coffee before embarking […]



An Ancient Order Of Freemen Has Appointed Two New Leaders.

An ancient order of freemen has appointed two new leaders. Eric Bulmer and Bob Elliott will serve as wardens of the City of Durham Freemen’s plumbers’ and mason’s companies, respectively. Mr Bulmer, of Brandon Village, follows in the footsteps of his great-great-grandfather who joined the freemen in 1851. Mr Elliott, of Gilesgate, can trace his […]



Four Women Join Durham Freemen

Sisters Sarah Nattrass and Vicky Heslop, Rebecca Wright and Sandra Allison are sworn in as members of the City of Durham Freemen in a ceremony at Durham Town Hall. Sisters Sarah Nattrass and Vicky Heslop, Rebecca Wright and Sandra Allison were sworn in as members of the City of Durham Freemen in a ceremony at […]



Six New Durham Freemen

A priest who worked alongside the late Mother Theresa is one of six newly installed Freemen of Durham City. Reverend Joan Donkin, who worked alongside the famous nun on the streets of Calcutta, said: “It is wonderful that the daughters of Durham are now a part of the city’s traditions.” Among those carrying on family […]



Joanne is a Freewoman

By The Northern Echo A teaching assistant has joined the ranks of a city’s “freewomen”. Read the full article at the Northern Echo at http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/10606417.Joanne_is_a__freewoman_/



City Freemen Set Modern Membership Record

By The Northern Echo Leaders of City of Durham Freemen welcome 11 new members into their eight surviving craft guilds in a ceremony at Durham Town Hall. Read the full article on the Northern Echo at http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/10031088.City_freemen_set_modern_membership_record/



Durham Freemen Top 200

By The Northern Echo Freemen set a modern-day membership record, topping 200 for the first time in living memory. Read the full article at the Northern Echo on http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/10027199.Modern_day_record__as_Durham_freemen_top_200/



Healing Saint Recovers After Restoration

By The Northern Echo A 4ft statue of St Giles, which stands above the entrance porch of the 900- year-old St Giles’ Church, in Gilesgate, Durham City, has been restored in a seven-day project. Read the full article at the Northern Echo on http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/9989705.Healing_saint_recovers_after_restoration____surgery___/