London,
07
March
2019
|
13:22
Europe/London

Florist, restaurateur, bishop and doctor (Who) among women offered City Freedom

More than 100 women will receive the Freedom of the City of London to commemorate the centenary of the Representation of the People Act 1918.

The Court of Common Council, the City of London Corporation’s top decision-making body, has today set the final seal of approval upon the Freedoms, paving the way for ceremonies to take place at Guildhall over the coming months.

Last year, the City Corporation agreed to mark 100 years of female suffrage with the award of the Freedom by inviting members of the Court of Common Council and colleagues in their City of London Wards to nominate candidates.

Drawn from a wide range of backgrounds - but all of them with a connection to the City - the 106 women include:

  • Sally Balcombe, Chief Executive of VisitBritain/VisitEngland
  • Dr Miranda Brawn, lawyer, banker, and founder of the Miranda Brawn Diversity Leadership Foundation
  • Margaret Campbell, Clerk, Launderers’ Company
  • Helen Evans, Team Manager, City Advice Service, Toynbee Hall
  • Nicola Farmer, restaurateur
  • Mary Gillmore, Company Director, Beauty Essence
  • Louise Jeffreys, Artistic Director, Barbican Centre
  • Rachel Levy, Principal Librarian, Shoe Lane and Artizan Street Libraries
  • The Rt Revd and Rt Hon Dame Sarah Mullally DBE, Bishop of London
  • Connie Robins, florist, Leadenhall Market
  • Jodie Whittaker, Guildhall School of Music & Drama graduate and actor, best known as the first female Doctor in Doctor Who

Catherine McGuinness, Policy Chair at the City of London Corporation, said:

“Many congratulations to everyone who accepted the City’s invitation to receive the Freedom of the City of London, among them, a restaurateur, actor, florist, ecologist, beauty salon owner, town planner, and the Bishop of London.

“My colleagues shared my enthusiasm to invite women from as many walks of life as possible, and I am very encouraged that we have exceeded our target of 100 women, and that we are announcing the news ahead of International Women’s Day.

“I hope that our new Freemen enjoy attending their ceremonies at Guildhall and will take pride in their Freedom, which is one of our most historic and celebrated traditions.”

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.

The City Corporation is the fourth largest funder of heritage and cultural activities in the UK and invests over £100m every year.

#100Freedoms100Women

ENDS

Notes for Editors:

High resolution images of Jodie Whittaker, actor; The Rt Revd and Rt Hon Dame Sarah Mullally DBE, Bishop of London; Dr Miranda Brawn, lawyer, banker and Founder and CEO of The Miranda Brawn Diversity Leadership Foundation; Sally Balcombe, Chief Executive of VisitBritain/VisitEngland; and Louise Jeffreys, Artistic Director, Barbican Centre; are attached.

Andrew Buckingham, Media Officer, City of London Corporation

Tel: 020 7332 1452 / Mobile: 07795 333 060

Email andrew.buckingham@cityoflondon.gov.uk

About the City of London Corporation:

The City of London Corporation is the governing body of the Square Mile dedicated to a vibrant and thriving City, supporting a diverse and sustainable London within a globally-successful UK. www.cityoflondon.gov.uk 

Recipients of the Freedom of the City of London:

The following women have agreed to be listed as recipients of the Freedom of the City of London award, as part of the City of London Corporation’s ‘100 Women for the Freedom’ campaign:

The Venerable Elizabeth Adekunle, Archdeacon of Hackney; Kathleen Agatiello, a Santander Bank Branch Director; Katherine Andrews, an Economist; Sally Balcombe, a Tourism Company Chief Executive Officer; Fiona Beale, a Chartered Surveyor; Robin Boles LVO, Chief Executive, In Kind Direct; Katherine Braddick, a Public Servant; Dr Miranda Brawn, A Business, Legal and Diversity Executive; Jane Brewin, Chief Executive Officer at Tommy’s; Beverley Bytheway, an Art Consultant; Ruth Calderwood, a Local Government Officer; Jacqueline Campbell, an Assistant Housing Director, retired; Margaret Campbell, a Livery Company Clerk; Francesca Canty, a Chief Executive Officer and Artistic Director; Denise Challis, a Consultant Paediatrician, retired; Sabine Chalmers, a General Counsel; Beth Charley, an Autism Speaker and Campaigner; Kathryn Lynda Crockford, Tutor in Adult Literacy; Angela Darlington, a Chief Risk Officer; Liz Davis, an Artist, retired; Professor Jo Delahunty QC, a Barrister, Lecturer and Judge; Nausicaa Delfas, an Executive Director of International at Financial Conduct Authority; Professor Lynn Dobbs, a University Vice-Chancellor; Helen Evans, an Advice Services Team Manager; Nicola Farmer, a Restaurateur; Beryl Freeman, a Secretary, retired; Jayne-Anne Gadhia DBE, a Financial Adviser; Paola Galley, a Secretary; Meg Game, an Ecologist, retired; Mary Gillmore, a Company Director; Janice Glegg, a Livery Company Personal Assistant; Kristina Glenn, a Charity Director; Jacqueline Glynn, a Senior Project Manager; Kate Griffiths-Lambeth, a Human Resources Director; Leula Habte, an Administrative Assistant; Evelyn Hamilton, a Consumer Finance Managing Director; Ena Harrop, a Headmistress; Claire Harvey, a Leadership Consultant; Jocelyn Hillman, a Charity Chief Executive; Karen Holden, a Solicitor; Jeanette Holland, a Solicitor; Ruzena Holub, an Interpreter and Teacher; Beverly Hurley CBEDr Anne-Marie Imafidon MBE, a Chief Executive Officer; a Social Enterprise Company CEO; Alexandra Jackson, a Fund Manager; Louise Jeffreys, an Artistic Director; Reverend Laura Jørgensen, Rector of St Botolph without Aldgate; The Revd Canon DAlison Joyce, an Anglican Priest; Barbara Jones, an Historian and Archivist; Kirsten Keegan, a Solicitor; Speranta Knowles, a Corporate Services and Events Manager; Danae Kyriakopoulou, a Chief Economist; Corinne Lee, an Asset Management Company Director; Dame Susan Leather, a Chair of Public and Charitable Organisations; Elena Leva, an Events Manager; Rachel Levy, a Librarian; Celine Lutzu, a Finance Administrator Manager; Anne Mason, a Local Government Officer; Catherine McBride, an Economist; Eugenie McKenzie, a Legal Secretary; Krystal Miller, a Communications Manager; Penelope Miller, a Solicitor; Rt. Revd & Rt. Hon. Dame Sarah Mullally, The Bishop of London; Tulsi Naidu, an Executive; Susan Primmer, a Communications Director; Arabella Ramage, a Solicitor; Heather Rawlins, a Livery Company Steward; Angela Roach, a Local Government Officer; Connie Robins, a Flower Company Director; Professor Patsy Rodenburg OBE, Voice Coach and Professor of Text & Poetry at Guildhall School of Music & Drama; Alexa Romanelli, a Solicitor; Antonia Romeo, a Permanent Secretary of a Government Department; Lisa Ronson, a Property Developer; Kate Royal, an Opera Singer; Greta Sandler, a Social Work Manager, retired; Annette Saunders, a Corporate Responsibility Manager; Baroness Fiona Shackleton; Valerie Shawcross, a Local Government Politician; Deborah Lynn Sherry, a Chief Commercial Officer; Heather Sibley, a Global Head of Real Estate and Services; Samantha Smethers, The Chief Executive of the Fawcett Society; Rosamund Smith, a Personal Assistant; Sandee Smith, a Legal Personal Assistant; Neleen Strauss, a Restaurateur; Rosamund Sweet, MBE, a Police Community Support Officer; Clarisse Tavin, an Architect; Sophie Timms, a Head of Corporate Affairs; Justine Voisin, a Lawyer, retired; Melanie Wadsworth, a Solicitor; Petronella West, a Chief Executive Officer; Susannah Wilks, an Urban Regeneration Director; Jodie Whittaker, an Actress; Lynne Williams AM, Principal of Guildhall School of Music & Drama; Deborah Wosskow OBE, a Businesswomen Networking Company Director; and Irem Yerdelen, a Risk Management and Insurance Consultant.