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Number 62 February 2013

Fountain in Town Hall Square

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Gild Banquet Weekend

8th / 9th June 2013This is to give you notice of the Gild’s Banquet Weekend in

June, we would very muchappreciate your support.

The Banquet will be held onSaturday 8th June (7.00pm) inthe Holmes Suite atDevonshire Place, 78 LondonRoad, Leicester, LE2 0RA thecity’s renowned banquetingestablishment, located half amile from the city centre

near the railway station and close to several hotels. There is acarpark at the rear of the building in Prebend Street.

Following a bucks fizz/wine pre-dinner reception, an appetisingfour-course menu, plus coffee and chocolates, has beenselected, with vegetarian alternatives. Tickets cost £39 perhead, please use enclosed booking form. A wine table offeringreasonably priced wines will, of course, be available for dinner.

The Freemen’s Service will be held onthe following day, Sunday 9th June(10.30am), at St. Mary de Castro.

The banquet is open to all members,their friends and relations. A bookingform can be found in the centre pages.

If you require any further informationor require details of hotels pleasecontact John Tolton on 0116 283 5042

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Patron: Colonel Robert Martin OBEPresident: The Lord Mayor of Leicester

OFFICERS 2012 - 2013Master: J.E.Tolton

Deputy Master: A. ChettleClerk: L. Roffee

Chamberlain: M.B. Hill

WARDENSM.E. Ayres, E.L. Critchlow, J.D. Lewitt,

A. Marriott , B.W. Mudford, L. Kirk (co-opted)

Number 62 February 2013

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GILDHALL NEWSFebruary 2013

ContentsEditor’s comments 5Report by John Tolton, Master of the Gild 5Chamberlain’s report from Maurice Hill 7Report by Bill Hargrave, Chairman of the Board of Deputies 8Report on the F.E.W. by your representitive Michael Ayres 9

Future programme - dates for your diaryFriday 1st March 2013, Long Alley Skittles at the Coach & HorsesSunday 7th April 2013, Open Morning at the HoltSaturday 13th April 2013, Wine & Cheese evening at the HoltWednesday 17th April 2013, Common Hall at the Leicester Town HallTuesday 23rd April 2013, St. George’s Day Service at St. Mary de CastroSunday 23rd June 2013, Visit to the Royal Air Force Museum at HendonSaturday 8th June 2013, Gild Annual Banquet at Devonshire PlaceSunday 9th June 2013, Annual Freemen’s Service at St. Mary de Castro

Contributions to the Gildhall News

The History of the Freemen of Leicester - part 5, by John Tolton 14

For Amusement Only

Cannon Balls! 16

Subscriptions 17

Have you changed your address? 18

Forms included with the NewsletterBooking form for Long Alley Skittle night on 1st March 2013Booking form for Cheese & Wine evening on 13th April 2013Application for Membership & Associate Membership of the GildForm to donate to the St. Mary de Castro “Save our Spire” fundBooking form for trip to Hendon on 23rd June 2013Renewal form for annual subscriptionsStanding Order form for Annual SubscriptionsBooking form for Gild Annual Banquet on 8th June 2013Gild products order form

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Editor’s CommentsHappy New Year to you all. I hope it is warmer whenyou read this, than it is today as I prepare this issue ofthe Gildhall News. Outside it is -5°C and covered insnow. It has been suggested that the font that I havebeen using of late (Calibri) is not as readable as itshould be. I have reverted to using Arial font for thisissue, do you have any comment?

If you have a story that would be of interest to other members, please putpen to paper, or finger to e-mail. We don’t need a book, only a shortarticle, possibly one or two pages long. It could be longer if it’s enthralling!!Preferably I would like to receive them as an attachment to an e-mail ifpossible, but pen and ink is acceptable.

Brian MudfordReport by John Tolton, Master of the Gild

Welcome to 2013. I hope you all had a good Christmasand I wish you all and your families a very happy NewYear. As I write this the ground outside is coveredwith a smattering of white frosty snow, which makes achange from the incessant rain that we have enduredsince; and including; the summer. Let us hope forbetter things this year.

Since my last report in the previous Gildhall News therehave been very few activities as the winter period is a traditionally quiettime, but here is a summary of what did indeed take place.

A Fish & Chip supper was held on the 10th November 2012 with a talkbeing given on the subject of Family History by Brian Johnson from thelocal Family History Society. It is a subject that is becoming more popularin recent years possibly on the back of the TV programme “Who do youthink you are?” Brian gave us an insight into the many avenues open todiscovering our past and the evening was a great success.

On the 11th November twelve freemen attended the Remembrance DayService at Victoria Park and during the service a wreath was laid at theMemorial by Tony Chettle and the Master in memory of all of the Freemenwho sacrificed their lives during the two World Wars. Both of mygrandfathers were killed in the First World War and I would imagine thatthere are a number of us who have lost close relatives in action.

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There have been two Swearing-in Ceremonies in 2012 since the last newsletter, both for overseas applicants. Jane Langton from the U.S.A. wassworn in as a new Freeman on the 19th November and I was pleased toattend the ceremony as I knew both of Jane’s parents, and her uncle,Roland Langton, was the prime mover in establishing the Gild in 1976.The ceremony was also attended by Lynn Roffee for the Gild and by BillHargrave, the Chairman of the Board of Deputies.

On the 14th December another ceremony took place for two applicantsfrom Australia, James Andrew Roffee and David Geoffrey Leach, whowere duly sworn in as new Hereditary Freemen. The ceremony wasattended by Bill Hargrave and Wayne Manship from the Board of Deputiesand Jeff Lewitt and Jim Manship from the Gild. Congratulations to allthree new freemen and I wish you a long and happy association with theFreemen of Leicester.

By the time you read this newsletter there will have been a further swearingin ceremony which takes place on the 19th January. A full list of the newfreemen will be given in the May edition of the Gildhall News.

Six freemen attended the Crown Court Opening Ceremony on the 3rd ofDecember at the Cathedral of St Martin’s followed by reading of LettersPatent in the Guildhall at which The Honourable Mr. Justice Moor wasgranted royal approval to perform his duties in Court.

Members of the Gild with family and friends enjoyed their annual visit tothe pantomime at the Little Theatre on December 14th. This year theproduction was Robin Hood and Babes in the Wood but sadly the demandfor tickets fell far short of the requirement in previous years; maybe a signof the squeeze we are all feeling in recent times.

One event which may have made a small contribution to the shortfall indemand for tickets was the Christmas Banquet held by the Coventry Guildof Freemen also held on the evening of the 14th December. Three of usattended the Banquet. I did with my wife Josie with Mick and Jean Ayresand Tony Chettle and the hospitality of the Freemen of Coventry wasbeyond reproach. This clash of dates has occurred before so the GildCourt will consider moving the pantomime visit back one week towardsChristmas next winter.

Have a good 2013 and I look forward to seeing some of you in theforthcoming year at our various activities.

John Tolton

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Chamberlain’s Report by Maurice Hill I’m pleased to report that at long last I feel that I am getting to grips withthe job and able to see the wood for the trees. There are a number ofproblems that need to be addressed and I have identified them below andyour cooperation in resolving them will be appreciated. Cheques – When submitting cheques to the Gild for functions orpurchases etc. please make them payable to “Gild of Leicester Freemen”this resolves problems at the bank. Handwriting – I have found that some handwriting is very hard to readand in one case this lead to items requested being sent to the wrongaddress. Please always complete forms using block capitals and as clearlyas possible. Membership – There appears to be a degree of confusion regardingthe two levels of membership. Associate membership of the Gild is for non Freemen and Freemenwishing to be members of the Gild must have full membership notassociate. Annual Subscriptions – May I remind you that the Gild annualsubscriptions were increased a year ago by £1.50 so that they are now £9per year for members and £6.00 for associates. Quite a number of peoplehave not paid this increase. Please check your records and amend ifnecessary. Also some people when paying their membership do not makeit clear who they are paying for. Please identify the persons if possible. Receipts – If a receipt is ever required please enclose a stampedaddressed envelope or provide a clearly written Email address, becauseI’m sure that you will appreciate the current postage rates are very high. Postage – Of necessity the cost of all Gild insignia, ties, cufflinks etc willnow have postage added. Just recently a member ordered some Christmascards and it cost £5.30 to despatch them. In future with any order thatmight prove expensive to despatch I will advise the costs of despatch andseek the additional payment. Change of circumstances – Please advise me of any changes incircumstances because I am now starting to update the Gild records. If we can jointly tackle the seven items listed above then the business ofthe Gild should flow much more smoothly. Thank you. Maurice Hill

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Report by Chairman of the Board - Bill HargraveThe new Leicester Freemen website has finallybeen launched. It can be found atwww.leicesterfreemen.comThis first issue is a draft copy which will serve as alive test, so by its nature is not as up-to-date as itwill be on-going. Now that it is launched we needto give our new communication vessel it’s “seatrials” . Please have a good look at it and email

your comments to leicester.freemen@talktalkbusiness.net . Your input willbe invaluable in helping to make improvements to the website.

When you open the website you will see on the home page a link to theGildhall News. When you click on to this link it opens up a copy of thelatest Gildhall news which appears in book form so you turn the pagesjust as you would a hard copy. So go ahead and try it. Have a look allaround the site and let us have your comments.

Since the November issue of the Gildhall News, I have attended threeFreemen’s Courts. In November the Lord Mayor conferred the Freedomon Jane Langton who was visiting Leicester from home in the USA. Theceremony took place this time in the Lord Mayor’s Chambers. Attendingthe ceremony was Jane’s Aunt, the wife of the late Roland Langton whoserved as clerk to the deputies for a number of years. It was Roland whowas instrumental in recruiting me to the board 30 years ago.

The December ceremony saw the Lord Mayor confer Freedom on twovisitors from Australia; James Roffee who inherits the freedom throughhis mother, and David Leach who inherits the freedom through the AyresFamily,

On Friday, 18th January there was a heavy snowfall right across the country.It looked as if the Freemen’s Court planned for the 19th would have to becancelled. In spite of atrocious road conditions 17 prospective freemenbattled their way through to the Town Hall and were rewarded by havingthe freedom being conferred on them by the Lord Mayor, Cllr Abdul Osman.I congratulate them on their determination and the value they place onthe honour of being a Freeman of the City of Leicester.

Bill Hargrave

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Report on the FEW (Freemen of England and Wales)by Michael AyresThere has been no meeting of the FEW since the AGM in September2012 which was hosted by the Freemen of York. The minutes of thatmeeting were reported in the FEW Journal number 172 October 2012.

The first Court meeting of the FEW this year will be held in Bedern HallYork on Saturday 16th March commencing at 2 00 PM. This meeting isopen to all members of the Leicester Gild who wish to attend. (Gownscan be worn at this meeting)

The two main items on the agenda for discussion will be the registrationAct concerning Freemen’s land and the recommendation of theappointment of Apprentice Freemen.

The first Banquet for 2013 will be hosted by the Gild of the Freemen ofYork over the weekend of Friday 19th April Saturday 20th and Sunday 21st

April.

The Friday evening will commence at 7 30 pm at the Clifton Park SportsClub with a Pie, Chips and Peas supper. This year the York Gild hasbooked two options for visitors on Saturday morning, you have the choiceof a Cruise along the River Ouse, or a visit to the historic Mansion Househome of the City’s Lord Mayor. The Saturday evening Banquet will beheld in wonderful Historic sixteenth century Merchant Adventures Hall at7 00 pm.

Sunday morning service will be held at the York Gild Church of All SaintsPavement, after the service we parade back to Bedern Hall for tea andcoffee and the master’s farewell speech.

For further information on the weekend please contact Mr Steve Hornby,12 Marlborough Close Rawcliffe Manor York YO30 5WA.

Coventry Freemen’s Guild will be holding their Banquet over the weekendof Friday 3rd May till Sunday 5th May. To date I have no further informationon the weekend but will inform you in the next news letter.

Michael Ayres

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New Gild Members 2012

The records show that the following persons joined the Gild as newmembers during 2012. Welcome to you all. If you haven’t done so alreadywe hope to meet you at our future trips or events.

R.E. Allen, M.E. Bailey, J.K. Bell, H. R. Brown, M. Capes, N.R. CaveJ.M. Crawley, B.E. Green, E.M. Greenwood, S.M. Hadfield-Hill, D. Hill,P. Hill, L.E. Kirk, J.E Langley, J. Lester, J.A. Lester, M.R. Long, D. Plummer,V.L. Southwell, E.A. Summers, M. Warner

Programme of Future EventsLong Alley Skittles Night

Friday 1st March 2013, arriving at 7.00pmCoach & Horses, Field Head, Markfield LE67 9RF

Our Long-alley Skittles Night this year is again being held at The Coachand Horses, an Everards pub on the A50. Traditional skittles food will beserved, there is a selection: Faggots, chips and peas, Steak & Ale Pie,chips and peas, and a Vegetable Lasagne, mixed salad and chips.

Some of our friends from the Coventry Guild of Freemen will be joining usfor the evening, which will add to the friendly rivalry of the occasion.

Please indicate your selection on the booking form. The evening will bevery relaxed, as usual, there is a maximum capacity of 45, so don’t missout and book without delay. The cost is only £8.00 each.

Open Morning – Sunday 7th April10.30 to 12.30 at Freemen’s Holt

The will be an open morning as in previous years at Freemen’s Holt onthe morning of Sunday 7th April where all Gild members and their familiesare welcome to drop in for a chat and a cup of coffee or tea. It also anideal opportunity to pay your subscription for 2013 and to purchase any ofthe many Gild products we have for sale.

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Rising postage costs have caused the Gild Court to regretfully reconsiderthe policy of not charging postage for the delivery of Gild products andthe Open Morning is an ideal opportunity for you to purchase your Gildproducts and to avoid the extra burden of postage.

There will also be the usual raffle and maybe give yourself a chance tospoil yourself with a prize of a box of chocolates or a bottle of wine. Welook forward to seeing you for a chat and listen to your comments aboutthe Gild.

Cheese & Wine eveningSaturday 13th April 2013, a talk on Mediaeval Leicester - 7.30pm

Freemen’s Holt, Old Church Street, Aylestone

Virginia Wright, one of Leicester’s Blue Badge Guides, will be joining us atour cheese & wine supper in April to talk about mediaeval Leicester. Besure to come along and hear about local legend and myth, along withfascinating historical and architectural facts of our fair city. It promises tobe a very interesting and entertaining evening.

After the talk, supper will be served, accompanied with plentiful wine,beer or soft drinks.

Tickets are priced at £8.50 each and you are urged to make your bookingearly.

Visit to Hendon, Sunday June 23rd 2013Leaving the Holt at 9.00a.m.

For our first trip this year we are going to the Royal Air Force Museum atHendon and the early indications are that this will prove to be a verypopular trip so we would advise securing your seats as soon as possible

The Museum offers a fun, enthralling day out for all the family. With over100 aircraft on site nowhere else enables you to get so close to so manyhistoric and ground-breaking aircraft.

The Historic Hangers in which the exhibition is housed are now listedbuildings and were once part of the old Hendon Aerodrome, the cradle ofBritish aviation in the early 20s.

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The exhibition is broken down into a series of halls e.g. milestones offlight, bomber hall, fighter aircraft, and Battle of Britain etc.

There is the opportunity to explore the inside of the mighty Sunderlandflying boat and see the cramped conditions of the crew.

The Bomber hall follows the development of the bomber from its firstappearance in World War1. The hall is in part a memorial to the 131,000young men who died in the bombing offensive in Europe, the only way theAllies could carry the fight back to Hitler’s Germany.

The Battle of Britain Hall tells the story of the World’s first decisive airbattle when the Royal Air Force stood alone against the might of theGerman Luftwaffe in World War2. Listen to Winston Churchill give his‘Battle of Britain’ speech to a fearful nation from his 10 Downing StreetOffice. Watch ‘Our Finest Hour’, the museum‘s sound and light showwhich explains the battle. See aircraft from both sides who took part inthe battle.

Take a trip in one of the two flight simulators, visit the 4D theatre a smallcharge is made for these.

There is a well stocked shop so make sure that you allow plenty of time topurchase a memento of your visit. To refuel during your visit take yourown lunch to eat in one of the picnic areas or visit the Wings Restaurant,which is licensed, for something substantial, or the Wessex Café for alight snack.

To secure your seats on this trip do not delay use the booking formenclosed.

Adult seats £18.00 each Child seats £13.00 each Non Gild members seats £20.00 each

Maurice Hill

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The Gild Annual BanquetSaturday 8th June 2013

Devonshire Place, London Road, Leicester

This year will be the fourth year that the Gild have held their Annual Banquetat Devonshire Place and all freemen, not just Gild members, are invitedwith their family and friends. It is an ideal way for new freemen (and thatincludes lady freemen) to find out what we are all about and what makesus tick.

The event has been a great success in previous years; attended byfreemen not just from Leicester but from many other guilds up and downthe country. The Gild Court has received nothing but plaudits from thosewho attended in the past, so much so that some of the visiting freemenfrom other Guilds consider our banquet to be the highlight of the year.Tickets this year will be priced at £39.00 per head, a price maintained forthe last three years.

Devonshire place is an excellent venue providing top class foodaccompanied by top class service and, of course, the company is also topclass. The Banqueting Hall is set out with round tables which make foreasy conversation with your neighbours and ensures that no-one is leftout at the end of the row.

A number of us attend banquets organized by other Freemen’s Guildsand wherever we go we are made welcome, and we like to reciprocate.Freemen from whichever town or city they hail from are friendly, and Ilike to think that we are as well.

If you would like to reserve your places at the banquet please completethe booking form in the centre of the Gildhall News and return it toMaurice Hill at the address on the form.

General inquiries about the banquet, or any other Gild matter, shouldbe directed to John Tolton at johntolton@hotmail.com.

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Contributions to the Gildhall News*****************************

History of Freemen – Part 5(The Early Town Halls of Leicester)

Because the business of the governing body of Leicester, thePortmanmoot, was so closely linked to the business of the Gild ofMerchants the distinction between the meetings of the two bodies becomesobscure. It is known that the Merchant Gild held their earlier meetings,known as Morning Speeches, in the open by the Church of St Nicholasand there is no evidence to suggest that the meetings of the Portmanmootwere any different. All Gild members could attend the Morning Speechesand have their say at such meetings and vote on matters raised whereasmembership of the Portmanmoot was restricted to twenty four in number.

The Merchant Gild did hold their meetings in a house situated in the Parishof St Nicholas, at that time the business centre of Leicester, from the midthirteenth century. In 1257 the building was rented from Isolda the Turnerfor an annual rent of 1/7d, and the following year the rent was paid toPhilip the Turner and continued to be paid to the Turner family for the nextsixty years. Often the building was referred to as belonging to thecommunity implying that the town, or the Portmanmoot, rather that theGild was responsible for the house.

In 1251 the Gild did purchase a house from William Ordriz standingopposite the east end of St Nicholas Church in White Boar Lane (laterknown as Blue Boar Lane in deference to Henry VII’s victory at Bosworth).The house was conveyed to “the Mayor and Burgesses and Communeof Leicester and their successors,” suggesting that by this time there waslittle difference between the membership of the Merchant Gild and that ofthe Portmanmoot. The purchase sum of the property was 6½ marks (£46s 8d) and a yearly rent of 16 pence and two capons, the rent paid as 5dat Candlemas, 5d at Whitsuntide, 6d at Michaelmas and the two caponsat Christmas. Later the annual rent was released on payment of 2 marks.

For some reason the new building was not immediately occupied whichwould suggest that the building was in a state of disrepair and that theGild had insufficient means to pay for the necessary repairs. Indeed, thefirst meeting in the new hall did not take place until March 1276 after arebuilding programme which commenced in 1274. Eventually the total

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known cost of the rebuilding work was £12 2s 7d which was nearly threetimes the original purchase price of the hall.

From records it is known that the site measured twenty yards and onefoot in length and nine yards in breadth at the east and seven yards at thewest. If the dimensions refer to the building only; and not including thesmall mud-walled garden; then the hall would have been as large as thelater Corpus Christi Guildhall, (the building we know today as the Guildhall).The building itself had a gabled roof covered with two and a half thousandSwithland slates; and in addition to the main hall there was a porch and alarge upper chamber, known as the solar, which over hung the street(Mayor’s Hall Lane). Under the overhang, or jetty, was a space let out asfour shops for an annual rent of four shillings. Both the hall, known as theMoot Hall, and the upper chamber had wooden benches which on oneoccasion were “broken and thrown down” during riotous and drunkenbehavior in the presence of the King’s Justice then sitting to hold Assize.

A “Keeper of the Guild Hall” was appointed in 1306 responsible for therepairs and maintenance of the building which from the records was aconstant battle. By 1366 it became necessary to purchase timber to propup the building and re-building was considered necessary. Two “Keepersof the work of the Common Hall of the town” were employed, namelyWilliam of Syston and John of Scraptoft, and the total cost of re-buildingamounted to £24 14s.

A number of items were stored in the Moot Hall including a summoningbell purchased for 6d in 1220, a mace purchase for 13s 6d in 1378 and alocked chest use to preserve the deeds and records of the Corporation.The Portmanmoot was by this time referred to as the Corporation. Otheritems such as weights and measures, seals, keys and armoury werealso stored in the hall. From as early as late Saxon times Leicester wascompelled to send and equip twelve burgesses to fight with the King’sArmy. A number reduced to six in 1346. .

Before the end of the 15th century the hall had become inadequate forBorough meetings and business was transferred to the Corpus ChristiGuildhall. The first recorded mention of Common Hall being held therewas in the winter of 1494-5. After this date the hall in Blue Boar Lanebecame known as the “Old Hall” whereas previously it had been referredvariously as “Leicester Hall,” “Guild Hall,” “Moot Hall,” “Mayor’s Hall,” or“Common Hall.” Never the less the old building remained in use for avariety of reasons for many years as a temporary school, a reception

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centre for prisoners and a coal store. A stone wall was built in 1573 todivide the coal house from the prisoners, but a resolution in 1580 statedthat no member of the Corporation be punished any longer in the OldHall, but at the new, which suggests that wayward councilors receivedpreferential treatment and were not to be mixed with the commonprisoners..

There is some confusion as to the final days of the Old Hall. During thesiege of Leicester in 1645 there is a tale that the building was used tostore gunpowder and cannon balls, but was blown up by the King’s forces.Yet there is mention of “The Mayor’s Old Hall” in the Borough rental rollsin 1694.

The first Corporation meeting in the Corpus Christi Hall was held onJanuary 8th 1495 when they were allowed use of the Hall rent free, althoughthey had to pay for heating, and was continuously used by the Corporationuntil the present day Town Hall was commissioned in 1876. However, theGuildhall was originally built for the Gild of Corpus Christi, the wealthiestand most influential of the religious guilds in Leicester in the 14th & 15th

centuries, and the socio-religious guilds deserve more attention that justa mere mention. But more of that in the next Gildhall News

John Tolton

Cannon Balls!

DID YOU KNOW THIS?

It was necessary to keep a good supply of cannon balls near thecannon on old war Ships. But how to prevent them from rolling aboutthe deck was the problem. The storage method devised was to stackthem as a square based pyramid, with one ball on top, resting on four,resting on nine, which rested on sixteen.

Thus, a supply of 30 cannon balls could be stacked in a small area rightnext to the cannon. There was only one problem — how to prevent thebottom layer from sliding/rolling from under the others.

The solution was a metal plate with 16 round indentations, called, forreasons unknown, a Monkey. But if this plate were made of iron, theiron balls would quickly rust to it. The solution to the rusting problemwas to make them of brass - hence, Brass Monkeys.

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Subscriptions

Subscription rates for members and associate members increasedfrom April 2012 to £9.00 and £6.00, respectively.This is a reminder for those members and associate members whokindly pay by standing order. If you haven’t amended your standingorder, please contact your bank and correct the amount before 1st April2013.

As mentioned in the Chamberlain’s report on page7, would you pleasecheck your bank statement to see what amount of subscription youpaid last year. If you have under-paid would you please send a chequefor the amount owing to Maurice Hill, 3 Mossdale Road, Kingsway,Leicester LE3 2UT.

For those of your who are amending your Standing order, or are newmembers who wish to start a Standing order, then this is the procedureto use.

Using the form with this issue of Gildhall News, complete theinformation on the two pages. The first page should be sent to MauriceHill at his address above, the second page of the Standing ordershould be posted to your bank manager.If you have any queries on completing the Standing order pleasecontact Maurice on 01162895394.

The Gild Court much prefers payment by Standing Order, as it makesfor easier administration. However, if you prefer, you may pay bycheque in the traditional manner, sending in the enclosed form withyour payment.

Few landlubbers realize that brass contracts much more and muchfaster than iron when chilled. Consequently, when the temperaturedropped too far, the brass indentations would shrink so much that theiron cannon balls would come right off the monkey.

Thus, it was quite literally, cold enough to freeze the balls off a brassmonkey. And all this time, folks thought that was just a vulgarexpression?

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Have you changed your address ?In the event that is necessary to inform the Gild or the Board of any changein circumstances then the information should be sent to:

Lynda BramleyClerk to the BoardLeicester Freemen’s Estate32 Freemen’s HoltOld Church StreetAylestoneLeicester LE2 8NH

Telephone: 0116 – 283 4017E-mail: leicester.freemen@talktalkbusiness.net

Leicester Freemen web site: www.leicesterfreemen.com

Copy for the next issue should reach the Editorby

Friday 19th April 2013

For your News and Views write to :

Brian Mudford11 Huntsman CloseMarkfieldLeicestershireLE67 9XE

Telephone 01530 245414e-mail: brianmudford@tiscali.co.uk

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After the Remembrance Day Service at the War Memorial, Victoria Parkon 11th November 2012

Six freemen attended the Crown Court Opening Ceremony on the 3rd of December atthe Cathedral of St Martin’s followed by reading of Letters Patent in the Guildhall

From left to right are Bill Hargrave, Chairman of the Board of Deputies, John Tolton, Masterof the Gild of Freemen, Kamal Adatia, City Barrister & Head of Standards, Jane Langton

from USA, the new Leicester Freeman, the Lord Mayor, Cllr Abdul Osman, and Lynn Roffee,Clerk of the Gild of Freemen after the swearing in ceremony on 19th November 2012.

Standing from left to right are Kamal Adatia, City Barrister & Head of Standards, WayneManship, a Member of the Board of Deputies, Bill Hargrave, Chairman of the Board of Deputies,

Jeff Lewitt, Court Member of the Gild of Freemen, and Jim Manship, aMember of the Gild of Freemen. Seated, either side of the Lord Mayor, Cllr Abdul Osman,are the new Freemen James Andrew Roffee and David Jeffrey Leach both from Australia,

after their swearing in ceremony on 14th December 2012.

BOOKING FORM

Cheese & Wine Evening - talk on Mediaeval LeicesterSaturday 13th April 2013 at Freemen’s Holt 7.30pm

Please reserve ………. places at £8.50 each

My name is ………………………………………………………………………….

My address is ………………………………………………………………………….

………………………………………………………………………….

Postcode……………………….Telephone…………………………….

e-mail address............................................................................................................

I enclose a cheque/postal order for £…………….., made payable to “Gild of LeicesterFreemen”. Please send to:Maurice Hill, 33 Mossdale Road, Kingsway, Leicester LE3 2UT. Tel: 0116 2895394Applications will be dealt with strictly on a first-come, first served basis.

BOOKING FORM

Long-alley Skittles Night at Coach & Horses @ 7pmFriday 1st March 2013

Please reserve ………. places at £8.00 each

Food selection: Faggots_______Steak pie_______Veg.Lasagne_______

My name is ………………………………………………………………………….

My address is ………………………………………………………………………….

………………………………………………………………………….

Postcode……………………….Telephone…………………………….

e-mail address............................................................................................................

I enclose a cheque/postal order for £…………….., made payable to “Gild of LeicesterFreemen”. Please send to:

Maurice Hill, 33 Mossdale Road, Kingsway, Leicester LE3 2UT. Tel: 0116 2895394Applications will be dealt with strictly on a first-come, first served basis.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ----

BOOKING FORM

Gild Gala BanquetSarturday 8th June 2013 at Devonshire Place

Please reserve................places at £39.00 each

I will require.........vegetarian meals

.........of us will be attanding the Annual Freemen’s Service at

St. Mary de Castro on Sunday 9th June 2013

My name is .............................................................................................

Address...................................................................................................

................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................

Post code.........................Telephone number..........................................

Names of other persons attending (please mark with a “V” if vegetarian)

..............................................................................................................................

...............................................................................................................................

.............................................................................................................................

e-mail address.........................................................................................

I enclose a cheque/postal order for £...............made payable to

“Gild of Leicester Freemen”

Please send to:

Maurice Hill, 33 Mossdale Road, Kingsway, Leicester LE3 2UT.Tel: 0116 2895394Applications will be dealt with strictly on a first-come, first servedbasis. Regrettably bookings will not be acceptable after 23rd May.

St. Mary de Castro ‘Save Our Spire’ Appeal.

You may recall that in the last newsletter I launched an appeal for donations tocontribute to the repair of the spire of the church of St. Mary de Castro which is ina serious state of disrepair. Donations have been gratefully received towards thefund and those contributing are listed in my report at the beginning of thisnewsletter, but we are still far short of the £250 required to sponsor a decoratedstone dedicated to the Freemen of Leicester. Such a decorated stone would be apermanent reminder of the generosity of the freemen in supporting a church thathas played a prominent part in the long history of the Freemen of Leicester.The Cheese and Wine evening to be held in April will help to raise funds for thecause. The speaker, Virginia Wright, is donating her fee to the spire appeal andthe proceeds from the raffle will also go to the appeal, so any donations for raffleprizes will be gratefully received. Virginia’s talk about ‘Mediaeval Leicester’ willhave considerable relevance to St Mary de Castro as the church, along with theneighbouring castle, were central to the development of mediaeval Leicester.Any Gild Member wishing to contribute to the fund should submit their donationwith the completed form and send it to the Chamberlain, Maurice Hill, 33Mossdale Road, Kingsway, Leicester, LE3 2UT.

PLEASE PRINT YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS

I…………………………………..........……of …………..........……………………………………………

………………………………………………..........………………………Post code……………..........

Would like to donate the sum of £…………………to the St Mary de Castro

Save Our Spire Appeal.

Cheques should be made payable to ‘St Mary de Castro PCC Save Our Spire

Appeal’

I pay Income Tax and/or Capital Gains Tax and would like to treat my donation

of £…………………. as a Gift Aid Donation.

Signature…………………………………………….

BOOKING FORM

Please reserve ………. adult places at £18.00 each

.......... child places (under 16) at £13.00 each

...........places for non-Gild members at £20.00 each

My name is.........……………………………………...……………………………….

My address is………………………………….....…………………………………….

………………………………………………………………………….

Postcode……………………….Telephone…………………………….

e-mail address.....................................................................................................

I enclose a cheque/postal order for £…………….., made payable to “Gild ofLeicester Freemen”. Please send to:Maurice Hill, 33 Mossdale Road, Kingsway, Leicester LE3 2UT.Tel: 0116 2895394Applications will be dealt with strictly on a first-come, first served basis.

Visit to Hendon, Sunday June 23rd 2013Leaving the Holt at 9.00a.m.

RENEWAL OF GILD MEMBERSHIPFOR THE YEAR 1ST APRIL 2013 - 31ST MARCH 2014

I would like to pay the annual subscription for my membership/associatemembership of the Gild for the year commencing 1st April 2013

Membership .............at £9.00 = £.............

Associate Membership ..............at £6.00 = £.............

My name is (BLOCK CAPITALS)....................................................

My address is (BLOCK CAPITALS)

.........................................................................................................

.........................................................................................................

Post code...........................Telephone.............................................

e-mail address.................................................................................

I enclose a cheque/postal order for £...................

made payable to “Gild of Leicester Freemen”

Please post to:

Maurice Hill, 33 Mossdale Road, Kingsway, Leicester LE3 2UT

Any queries, please phone Maurice on 0116 2895394

PLEASE NOTE: IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO PAY YOUR ANNUALSUBSCRIPTION BY STANDING ORDER, PLEASE SEE OVERPAGE.

GILD OF LEICESTER FREEMEN

(Kindly complete where marked by all dotted lines)

To:Maurice Hill,33 Mossdale Road,Kingsway,Leicester LE3 2UT

Date………………………………..20.…..

I, ………………………………………………..agree to pay my AnnualSubscription to the GILD OF LEICESTER FREEMEN on 1st April eachyear by means of the signed Standing Order that I have sent to my bank.

I understand that the annual subscriptions at present are £9.00 for a fullmember and £6.00 for an associate member, and that I can stop or amendthis Standing Order simply by giving instructions to my bank.

Signature……………………………………………………….

Address…………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………

Post code……………………………………………….

e-mail address...................................................................

STANDING ORDER - PLEASE SEND TO YOUR BANK MANAGER

To:

The Manager…………………………………………..Bank PLC

Address ……....…………………………………………………..

……………………………………………………...

………………………………………………...........

Postcode……………………………………………

Please pay to:-Lloyds Bank TSB Bank PLC,Old Market Square Branch,Nottingham NG1 6FD(Bank Sort Code 30-96-18)

For the account of the Gild of Freemen of the City of Leicester

(Account No. 01409164) the sum of £……………….

Commencing on 1st April 20.…, and yearly thereafter until further notice.

Kindly make the payment with reference

…………………………………(my surname and initial).

Name of account to be debited....……………………………..…..

Account No.........………………………………………………….

Signature…………………………………………………………

Date ………………………………………………….20.….

Address .………………………………………………………….

.........…………………………………………………….

..………………………………………………………….

Postcode………………………………………………....

GILD OF FREEMEN OF THE CITY OF LEICESTER

APPLICATION FOR FULL MEMBERSHIP

Full Name______________________________________________(BLOCK LETTERS)Address_____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________

Post Code ________________Tel No. _______________________

e-mail address__________________________________________I am a duly sworn Freeman of the City of Leicester and apply to be enrolled as aMember of the Gild of Freemen, for which I enclose the sum of £10.00(Enrolment fee of £1.00 plus the first annual subscription of £9.00).

Signature Date

APPLICATION FOR ASSOCIATE MEMBERSHIP

Full Name______________________________________________(BLOCK LETTERS)Address ___________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

Post Code __________________Tel No. ____________________

e-mail address__________________________________________

I certify that I am the SPOUSE / WIDOW / WIDOWER / SON / DAUGHTER /GRANDCHILD aged 18 years or over (please delete where necessary) of

Mr. / Mrs./ Ms. _____________________________________(Freeman ofLeicester)Or

I am a full member of the Guild of Freemen of_________________(City or Town)I apply to be enrolled as an Associate Member of the Gild, for which I enclose thesum of £7.00 (Enrolment Fee of £1.00 plus the first Annual Subscription of £6.00)

Signature___________________________________________Date_____________

Please make cheques payable to ‘Gild of Leicester Freemen’ and send with thisapplication

to Maurice Hill, 33 Mossdale Road, Kingsway, Leicester LE3 2UT

THE GILD OF FREEMEN OF THE CITY OF LEICESTERGILD PRODUCTS ORDER FORM1. Tie - navy ………at £10.00 each = £………….

- maroon ………at £10.00 each = £………….- green ………at £10.00 each = £………….- two ties (state colours) ...……at £19.00 two = £………….- three ties …...…at £27.50 three = £………….

2. Key-ring ………at £5.00 each = £………….3. Lapel badge ………at £2.50 each = £………….4. Cufflinks ..........at £16.00 each = £………….5. Gild pens - new design ………at £3.00 each = £………….6. Arm badge - framed …...…at £55.00 each = £………….

- unframed .....….at £20.00 each = £………….7. Blazer badge .........at £13.50 each =£..............8. Wall plaque, wooden ………at £24.00 each = £………….9. Gown, made to measure, incl. delivery........price on request = £………….

(Chest ..........ins, height..........ft...........ins).10. Register of Freemen- 1931-85 ………at £4.00 each = £………….

- 1986-96 ………at £3.00 each = £………….11 Christmas cards - Frosty morning design......at £4.00 for 6 = £..............

TOTAL = £………….I enclose cheque/postal order for the above total, made payable to: “GILD OF LEICESTER FREEMEN”

NAME……………………………………………………………………………………..

ADDRESS…………………………………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………………………………

………………………………………………………………………………….

POST CODE……………………………

E-MAIL ADDRESS:........................................................................................

Signed……………………………………………………………………………………….Please post to:

Maurice Hill, 33 Mossdale Road, Kingsway, Leicester LE3 2UT

Tel: 0116 2895394