2017 Yearbook

Heritage
Welcomed into
an ancient tradition
In the 500th year of the Worshipful Company of Carmen our
MD Jacqueline joined one of the ancient livery companies
of the City of London. Dating all the way back to the 13th
Century the Carmen was founded in 1517 as the 77th livery
company of the City of London. Today the fellowship of the
Carmen reflects the transport industry as the lifeblood of
the UK’s economy.
Jacqueline was thrilled to be admitted as a Freeman of the
Company and joins almost 700 other members in one of the
largest Livery Companies of the City of London.
Shortly after the Carmen ceremony, Jacqueline went on to be
admitted into the Freedom of the City of London. Members
of the Company of Carmen are generally encouraged to
apply for the Freedom and Jacqueline’s ceremony took place
in April.
Initially, in its earliest times, the Freedom of the City was an
essential requirement for all who wished to carry out business and prosper in trade within the Square Mile. Today most of
the practical reasons have disappeared, but it remains a unique part of London’s history to which many people have been
proud to be admitted.
The ceremony itself takes place in the Chamberlain’s
Court at Guildhall, during which Jacqueline was required
to read the Declaration of a Freeman (pictured left) and
to sign the Freeman’s Declaration Book.
The Clerk of the Court presented Jacqueline with a Copy
of the Freedom together with a copy of the ‘Rules for the
conduct of life’ which date from the mid-18th Century.
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