Yesterday I had the privilege of attending my first freedom ceremony in official garb, alongside Paul Judge, to welcome Lui Hui to the freedom of the City of London.  Lui has been a big help on City-Asia relations and it was a delight to see him again.  He brought along a wonderful set of friends to help celebrate.

Officiating, Murray D Craig, Clerk of the Chamberlain’s Court, City of London, gave yet another witty, authoritative and personal talk after the official ceremony.  Murray ranged widely and eruditely through battles and cricket (Lui’s entourage were off to the Chinese Cricket Club for a celebratory lunch), as well as connecting with kings and presidents who had taken the freedom, recognising Lui’s Macanese and Portuguese connections.

The traditional celebration, even without Portuguese connections, was served by the Beadle, a glass of Madeira, despite the 10:30am ceremony.  We toasted the health of “the youngest freeman”, well the youngest until the next swearing in about an hour later.

If you’d like to consider the freedom given a love or connection with the City, please just ask at the Chamberlain’s office.  For a bit more detail, here is Murray’s wonderful 2011 Gresham Lecture – “Sheep Across London Bridge: The Freedom of the City of London“.