Simon Weston OBE, the Falklands veteran, campaigner and author, will receive the Freedom of the City of London at Guildhall on Tuesday 15 December, in recognition of his outstanding charitable and campaigning work.

A photo call with Simon and his Freedom certificate will take place at Guildhall Art Gallery and/or Guildhall Yard, EC2, between 12.45pm and 1pm. Photographers from the London-based and UK media are invited to attend.

Before the photo call, Simon will attend his Freedom of the City of London ceremony, conducted by Murray Craig, Clerk of the Chamberlain’s Court, in the Chamberlain’s Court at Guildhall. After reading aloud the Declaration of a Freeman, Simon will be greeted by the Clerk as a “Citizen of London” and presented with his framed parchment certificate.

The Freedom of the City of London is believed to have begun in 1237 and enabled recipients to carry out their trade; and today, people are nominated for, or apply for, the Freedom, because it offers them a link with the historic City of London and one of its ancient traditions. The Freedom is also offered to individuals by the City of London Corporation to help celebrate a significant achievement, or to pay tribute to their outstanding contribution to London life or public life. However, many of the so-called traditional privileges associated with the Freedom, such as driving sheep over London Bridge, no longer exist.

ENDS

NOTES TO EDITORS:

Simon Weston’s photo call will be held in one of the exhibition spaces at Guildhall Art Gallery and/or Guildhall Yard, EC2, depending on weather conditions, from 12.45pm to 1pm on Tuesday 15 December. Photographers who wish to attend the photo call are asked to contact Andrew Buckingham (see below) for accreditation.

1. PRESS ENQUIRIES:

Andrew Buckingham, Media Officer, City of London Corporation

Tel: 020 7332 1452 / Mobile: 07795 333060

Email andrew.buckingham@cityoflondon.gov.uk

2. ABOUT THE CITY OF LONDON CORPORATION:

The City of London Corporation is a uniquely diverse organisation. It supports and promotes the City as the world leader in international finance and business services and provides local services and policing for those working in, living in and visiting the Square Mile. It also provides valued services to London and the nation. These include the Barbican Centre and the Guildhall School of Music & Drama; the Guildhall Library and Art Gallery and London Metropolitan Archives; a range of education provision (including three City Academies); five Thames bridges (including Tower Bridge and the Millennium Bridge); the Central Criminal Court at Old Bailey; over 10,000 acres of open spaces (including Hampstead Heath and Epping Forest), and three wholesale food markets. It is also London’s Port Health Authority and runs the Animal Reception Centre at Heathrow. It works in partnership with neighbouring boroughs on the regeneration of surrounding areas and the City Bridge Trust, which it oversees, donates more than £15m to charity annually.