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. Fire-eater John Wolstenholme, a retired geneticist and now one of a team of volunteer helpers at The Wood Pile in Renny’s Lane, Gilesgate, provided […]
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.” A new bylaw, currently sought by the Wear Anglers’ Association, will reinforce the trustees’ […]
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 […]
Eric Bulmer Chairman of the Plumber’s Company is elected new Chaiman of the Wardens. Although I was only appointed Warden of the Plumbers’ Company in May 2013, I have strong family ties with the Freemen of Durham City and I am the fourth generation of Bulmer to be admitted to the Freemen; a line that […]
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. Great grandmother Anne Pearson followed in the footsteps of her grandfather, father, two brothers and brother-in-law when she became a member of the Plumbers’ Company. “I […]
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 […]
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. Solicitor Norman Hart succeeds Roger Norris, Durham’s Cathedral former deputy librarian, who stepped down in the summer after 20 years in the chair. Seventy-one-year-old Mr Hart was, until he retired two years […]
The chairman of the wardens, John Heslop, is stepping down after playing a pivotal role in one of the most successful periods in the freemen’s post World War Two history. The announcement of John’s departure took colleagues by surprise and his last official function, the trustees and wardens meeting on December 4, will mark, almost […]
A former apprentice at Durham Cathedral says he cannot thank the Durham City Freemen enough, after they sponsored his training to become a qualified joiner.
Durham City Freemen held their Annual Dinner on 3 October. There were 60 guests which included local Freemen and their guests as well as others from around the country.