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Number 70 February 2015

Members of the Leicester Gild of Freemen with theLord Mayor of Leicester, Councillor John Thomas

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Gild Banquet Weekend

6th / 7th June 2015This is to give you notice of the Gild’s Banquet Weekend inJune, we would very much appreciate your support.

The Banquet will be held onSaturday 6th June (7.00pm) inthe Holmes Suite atDevonshire Place, 78 LondonRoad, Leicester, LE2 0RA thecity’s renowned banquetingestablishment, located half amile from the city centre nearthe railway station and close to

several hotels. There is a carpark at the rear of the buildingin 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 £40 perhead, please use enclosed booking form. A wine table offeringreasonably priced wines will, of course, be available for dinner.

The Freemen’s Service will beheld on the following day,Sunday 6th June (10.30am), atLeicester Cathedral.

The banquet is open to allmembers, their friends andrelations. A booking form canbe found in the centre pages.

If you require any furtherinformation or require details of hotels please contact MickAyres on 0116 2242353

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Patron: Colonel Robert Martin OBE DLPresident: The Lord Mayor of Leicester

OFFICERS 2014 - 2015Master: L.A. Roffee

Deputy Master: M.E. AyresClerk: L.A. Roffee

Chamberlain: A. Marriott

WARDENSN. Cave, A. Chettle, M.B.Hill, L. Kirk,

J.D. Lewitt, B.W. Mudford.

Number 70 February 2015

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GILDHALL NEWSFebruary 2015

Contents

Editor’s comments 5

Report by Lynn Roffee, Master of the Gild 5

Report by Brian Mudford, Chairman of the Board of Deputies 6

Chamberlain’s report by Andy Marriott 7

Report on the FEW by Michael Ayres 8

Subscriptions 8

Living at Freemen’s Holt by a resident 9

Bungalows now available at the Holt by Maurice Hill 9

News from the Holt by Sandra Stocks 10

Report on Garden Party - Nominated Charity 11

Report on Children’s Christmas Party 12

Future programme - dates for your diary

Friday 20th February, Skittles Night at the Coach & Horses at 7pm

Sunday 29th March, Open Morning at the Holt, start at 10.30am

Saturday 11th April, An Edwardian Evening with Buffet Supper and drinks

Wednesday 15th April, Common Hall (AGM) at Leicester Town Hall at 7.30pm

Thursday 23rd April, St. George’s Day Service at St. Mary de Castro at 7:30pm

Saturday 6th June, Annual Gild Banquet at Devonshire Place

Sunday 7th June, Annual Freemen’s Service at the Leicester Cathedral

Contributions to the Gildhall News

The History of the Freemen of Leicester - part 13 by John Tolton 15

Bromkinsthorpe a link from Paul Ross 17

Advert - Vacancy for Clerk of the Court 17

For Amusement OnlyThe Haircut 18

The Atheist in the Woods 18

Have you changed your address? 19

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Editor’s CommentsA belated Happy and Healthy New Year to you all. As I write thisthe recent snow has melted, but there is a promise of more tocome. I hope Spring is well on the way by the time you readthis and we can look forward to some warmth.

If you have a story that would be of interest to other members,please put pen to paper, or finger to e-mail. We don’t need abook, only a short article, possibly one or two pages long. Itcould be longer if it’s enthralling!! Have you researched yourFamily History and have found an interesting story of a familymember that would be of interest? Preferably I would like to

receive them as an attachment to an e-mail if possible, but pen and ink is acceptable.

Brian Mudford

Report by Lynn Roffee, Master of the GildAs you read this edition of GNH, spring is just around thecorner after the short days and long nights of the recentmonths. Both Common Hall and Banquet Committee’s havebeen busy preparing for both these events, whilst members ofthe Gild Court have been busy planning events for theforthcoming year. Please keep a look out in GHN and thewebsite for details.

In addition to planning this year’s events, there has been aMaking Free ceremony, kindly hosted by the Lord Mayor ofLeicester, Councillor John Thomas. There were 15 new

Freemen, including 10 Daughters, taking their oath on 17th January 2015 at the TownHall. You may recall I mentioned before that there is a possibility of only one MakingFree ceremony each year. However, please do keep the applications flowing into theCivic Office as it is possible, if there sufficient numbers, to hold another one in a fewmonths.

Please note the date of Common Hall in your diary, and the earlier start time thisyear. If you attend Common Hall you are invited to join us, following the conclusionof business, for a light buffet in the Tea Room. Can you please let us know if you willbe attending? – this helps us get the right catering requirements and minimiseswastage. If you are keen to get involved in the running of the Gild Court – this is theannual opportunity to get involved.

It’s hard to believe that it will soon be time to renew your annual Gild subscription.Can I please remind those members who have not already paid for this year to send acheque asap, and for everyone to check their bank statement to ensure you are

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paying the correct amount. Again, this helps us in many ways not least chasingmembers for late payment several times, the cost of stamps, and of course, to reducethe amount of the Chamberlains time spends on this exercise.

Lynn Roffee

Report by Chairman of the Board - Brian MudfordThere are three articles in this issue of the GildhallNews concerning living at Freemen’s Holt. One isfrom a resident see page 9, another is from MauriceHill giving details of the advantages of living on theHolt, also on page 9, and one from Sandra Stocks onpage 10. If you are considering moving, then theseare well worth a read.

If you are interested in viewing a bungalow or arethinking of a possible move to Freemen’s Holt for

either yourself or a family member please contact Lynda Bramley in theoffice on 0116 283 4017. Photographs of the bungalows are available on thewebsite together with floor plans with dimensions of the rooms. Go towww.leicesterfreemen.com and either click on the link on the home page orselect the “Freemen’s Holt” page for more details. You may also request anapplication form via the office on the above telephone number or via emailfrom leicester.freemen@talktalkbusiness.net

I, and my wife Gill attended, along with several Board members, theChristmas Dinner at Beedles Lake on 10th December. A total of sixty peopleenjoyed the three course dinner. This was a good day out for residents, andnon-resident Freemen and their friends. There were several non residentswho were disappointed to miss this outing as they had other engagements orappointments.

At the Making Free ceremony on Saturday 17th January 2015 15 people weremade free, see the photograph on the back cover. They were: David MichaelBall, Julie Ann Barron, Charlotte Louise Barry, Nicola Jane Barry, CharlotteLouise Farrell, Daniel James Laurence, Sophie Jane Laurence, Richard JohnLehane, Susan Elizabeth Lehane Flowers, Margaret Pearl March, ValerieMoore, Linda Gail Norman, Jane Elizabeth Whiteley, Peter Edward Whiteley,and Timothy Paul Wildbore.

Once again I extend a very sincere welcome to them all.

Brian Mudford

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Chamberlain’s Report by Andy MarriottForeword

The information contained in this report is a summary of the Gilds Bank Balances andsnap shot of the Gilds Accounts. It is my continued intention to provide a report foreach of the Gild’s quarterly meeting’s using this format whilst also supplying the accountsbooks for viewing by any gild member on request. I would also welcome feedback onthis format and suggestions of any changes or additions members and wardens wouldfind useful.

Membership Arrears

There are still a large number of Gild members who have still not paid for this year’smembership and I would like to ask you all to please submit your membership fee’s as amatter of urgency.

Gild Accounts Book

The Gilds Accounts Book as of Sunday 11th January 2015 has the following figuresrecordedReceipts £ 4257.50Standing Orders £ 888.50Payments £ 5266.67Petty Cash £ 40.47

Gild Bank AccountsWe have received the latest Bank Statements from Lloyds Bank.Business Account as of 10th November 2014 holds £ 3,862.78Treasurers Account as of 20th November 2014 holds £ 389.24These figures do not take into account any monies and cheques banked after thesedates which will be reflected in the next statements we received

Other Business

1. The Gilds bank account has now been confirmed as being with Lloyds Bankand all paperwork around the change of signatories has been submitted toLloyds Bank and we are now awaiting confirmation of change of details. In theinterim banking of monies can still be completed and the signing of Gild Chequescan be completed by the previous signatory which will still enable the Gild tocomplete any business transactions as and when required. This is still ongoingas I have now been requested to submit my passport for additional Identificationfollowing the new policies in place with Lloyds Bank

2. For ease of creating reports I am currently transferring the Gild books to anelectronic format as well as keeping the paper copy this will allow for ease ofinformation sharing should the need ever arise

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3. Arrears there has been no movement on the arrears of outstanding Gildmembership despite a notification reminder being sent out and I am nowlooking for the Court’s views on how we should proceed with this matter.

Andy Marriott

Report on the FEW (Freemen of England and Wales)by Michael Ayres

Since my last report in the November Gildhall News on the FEW AGM weekend,hosted by the Stafford Freemen Guild and held at the Yarnfield Conference Centre,there have been no meetings of the FEW.

The next meeting is a Court meeting on Saturday 14th March starting at 2 00 PM. Themeeting will be hosted by The Guild of Freemen of the Borough of Northampton. Themeeting will be held in the Guild Hall, Saint Giles Square, Northampton NN1 1DE.

This is an open meeting and all Members and Associate Members of the LeicesterGild are invited to attend. Why not come along and meet members of other Guilds,find out about their activities and outings. You will be able to take part in the meetingand to ask any questions about Freemen’s affairs.

If you cannot attend the meeting and would like further information about the FEW,why not become a Member and receive the News Journal which is published threetimes a year. To become a member or associate member of the FEW contact theMembership Secretary Eileen Forth. 88 Whitethorn Close, Huntington, York. YO3 9EU,Phone 01904638361 or e-mail the President Gordon Varndell GV.44@hotmail.co.uk

Michael AyresSubscriptions

Subscriptions are the life blood of the Gild without which the Gild would most probablycease to exist. Just a reminder that the present subscriptions are £9 per annum formembers and £6 per annum for associate members and payment is due on the 1st Aprileach year.

Our ambition is now to maintain the progress we have made and to achieve this wewould request that you advise us asap of any changes of address etc., and continue topay your subscription if at all possible on time. Remember these can be paid in any ofthree ways,

By standing order using the form enclosed to set it up.

By cheque made payable to “the Gild of Leicester Freemen” and sent to theChamberlain.

By cash at the Holt open morning on Sunday 29th March.

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At the open morning you not only can pay your subscription, but can enjoy havingcoffee and biscuits, meeting fellow Gild members, purchase from the range of Gildproducts and chance your luck in the raffle. – you could be a winner!!

Andy MarriottChamberlain

Living at Freemen’s Holt – by a resident.

Nearly three years ago my wife and I moved into a bungalow on the Holt and at the timewe moved I was just 69 years old. Now that might seem a little on the young side tosome, but the Holt is not a home for old people, it’s more of a retirement complex.There are old people living here and that’s because people live longer here in a stressfree environment. Time and again I have heard the statement “I am not ready to moveto the Holt yet.” This isn’t an old people’s home where you are waiting for God, it is acomplex where people come to enjoy their retirement.

Just a few years before we came here to live a small group of residents was collectivelycelebrating their 80th birthdays that year, and by way of enjoying the event they allwent off to Paris for a few days living it up.

So what makes the Holt so special?

There are a number of reasons that make life so good living here. The total lack ofstress is paramount (which possibly accounts for the longevity of the residents), noworrying about repairs to the bungalow or the central heating, or cutting the lawn. It isall taken care of by the Freemen’s Charity. On the estate there is a real community spiritand once a week there is a coffee morning where those who are able take it in turns tomake the drinks. There is no compulsion to attend and a few choose to give it a miss.

If any of you are thinking of moving to the Holt I can only recommend that you don’tleave too late. The times I have heard, “I should have moved earlier, I am too old to gothrough the stress of moving now.”

Ask anyone living on the Holt, and they will all tell you that it is the best thing that theyever did.

Bungalows now available at the HoltWe currently have a number of standard bungalows available at the Holt and an extendedbungalow will be available later this year. If you would be interested in any of thesebungalows then contact Lynda Bramley in the office, Tel. No. 0116 2834017, to arrangea visit to see the bungalows and obtain application forms.

Much has been said in the past of living stress free at the Holt but there are otheradvantages that you might not be aware of and some of these are as follows.

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A very modest maintenance charge is made for the bungalows, standard bungalows£130/month, extended bungalows £182/ month.

For each bungalow the water rates, monthly window cleaning, colour television licence(currently £145.50) for those aged up to 75, after which it is free, and a 24/7 alarmsystem with pull cords and personal pendent are all paid for by the Board.

If the Board consider it to be necessary, prior to occupancy, a new kitchen will be installedto the resident’s choice up to a cost of £2940.

Some items do have to be paid for by the resident. These are Contents insurance, Counciltax (all bungalows are band A currently £1008/year), and other utility charges.

All of the bungalows are decorated prior to being occupied and future decorating is atthe resident’s expense. Any changes to the bungalow are also at the resident’s expenseand subject to the Board’s approval who will arrange for tradesmen to carry out therequired work.

The bungalows are fully maintained with the surrounding grass cut and also maintained.

Accommodation for visitors to stay overnight is available for a very small cost.

All residents are visited daily on weekdays and checked by telephone at weekends. Theyhave access to all on site activities which currently include film shows, fun afternoons,pampering sessions and occasional lunches.

Finally, from the above it can be clearly seen that there is much more to the Holt thaninitially meets the eye

Maurice HillChairman of the Welfare Committee

News from the Holt2014 at Freemen’s Holt was an interesting one, we have said goodbye to some of ourresidents and hello to new ones.

There has been building work with two bungalows being extended to include an extraroom. The excitement is that No 28 being a front extension is a new design which hascaught the estates attention, and we are now taking bookings for the “open day”viewing. The new residents are excited and looking forward to planning their movedate.

Coffee mornings at the Holt are lively affairs with residents taking turns to make teaand coffee, we often have the local police officers join us to keep us up to date withwhat’s happening in the local area and take on any concerns we might have.

We have hosted several lunches for residents and for non-residents, these are alwaysvery well attended.

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There was the Garden Party at Freemen’s Holt and although the weather did give us afew problems the day proved to be a very good one with well over £1,735 beingraised for Take Heart Leicester. A further £215 from surplus donations fromWednesday afternoon activities of Freemen’s Flicks and Funtime was also donated tothis charity.

A bus of 20 residents and non-residents visited Ulverscroft Manor in June and 60others visited Beedles Lake for Christmas lunch with all agreeing it was a good dayout. The view over the lake provides a stunning setting for a festive meal.

We have new plans for 2015. Lynda and I are planning a coffee morning for anyFreemen, spouses, widows and friends who would like to come along. Why not joinour first coffee morning at 11.00am on Tuesday 14th April. Come along forrefreshments, a chat and make some new friends.

We are also planning to try some different activities that will be open to bothresidents and non-residents and of course, our lunches will still be offered, if youwould like to come for lunch please get in touch with the office with your name andcontact number and we will get in touch when we arrange our next one, who knowshow many new friends you could be making, please don’t be put off if transport is aproblem as we may be able to help with that also.

We have a therapist who comes to Freemen’s Holt once a month and offers head andshoulder massage or reflexology if this appeals to you give Lynda or myself a ring on0116 283 4017 and book yourself a spot each treatment cost £15.

Sandra Stocks

2014 Garden Party – Nominated CharityOver the past years we have donated monies raised at the bi-annual garden parties tonominated charities and have never known precisely what the money was used for.

2014 was different. The nominated charity was ‘Take Heart Leicester’ (THL) a small localcharity who work hard to provide vital and much wanted equipment for the adult cardiacunit at the Glenfield Hospital and we know what the £1750 we were able to raise wasused for.

Our money was used towards the purchase of two ‘Non Invasive Positive PressureVentilation’ machines known as ‘NIPPYs’, because the last V has a tail hence reads NIPPY.

Many people requiring cardiac surgery arrive at the hospital with breathing difficultiesand in some cases their lips are of a blue colour. In many instances before surgery cantake place the breathing problem must be brought under control and in the past thepatient would be placed in an induced coma in the intensive care unit for a period oftime while this was being done.

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Using the NIPPY the breathing problem can, in many cases, be brought under controlmuch easier without the need for induced coma or intensive care.

Following the purchase of the machines, June and I were invited by Alan Phillips Chairmanof THL to visit the Hospital and see the machines. The visit was delayed initially becausethe machines were in use.

We were greeted by Alan Phillips and Sally Garner, Medical Physics Medical EquipmentProject Officer and saw only one machine the other being in use at the LRI. We werethanked profusely for the donation and the machines are now being fitted with a smallplaque showing that they were donated by the Freemen of the City.

Inside the rear cover you will find a photograph of June and myself with Alan Phillipsand one of the NIPPY machines. Thanks everybody for all your donations at the GardenParty. Well done everyone

Maurice Hill

Children’s Christmas PartyThe Children’s Christmas party was a great success with both children and parentshaving a fun time. The event was held at Varney’s fun factory where the Childrenenjoyed a range of bouncy castles, climbing gym and a visit from Santa followed by alarge children friendly spread of food.

The Adults enjoyed a variety of hot drinks, cold drinks and alcoholic drinks with theopportunity to relax and chat whilst the children played.

The feed back received at the end of the event was 100% positive and I have alsolisted a few ideas that I feel will improve this event if we run it again in 2015

Event Costings

Ticket Sales 21 x £3.00 £63.00Total cost £274.00Misc . Items sweets £4.98

Event deficit -£215.98

This was a subsidy for the event agreed by the Gild Court.

Andy Marriott

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Programme of Future EventsLong-alley Skittles Night

Friday 20th February 2015, arriving at 7.00pmCoach & Horses, Field Head, Markfield LE67 9RF

Our Long-alley Skittles Night is again being held at The Coach and Horses, anEverards pub on the A50. Traditional skittles food will be served, there is a selection:Faggots, chips and peas, Steak & Ale Pie, chips and peas, and a Vegetable Lasagne,mixed salad and chips. Please indicate your selection on the booking form.

The evening will be very relaxed as usual, there is a maximum capacity of 45, so don’tmiss out and book without delay, orders for the meals have to be in by the 13thFebruary. The cost is only £8.00 each.

Brian Mudford

Open Morning – Sunday 29th March10.30am to 12 noon at Freemen’s Holt

There will be an open morning as in previous years at Freemen’s Holt on the morningof Sunday 29thMarch where all Gild members and their families are welcome to dropin for a chat and a cup of coffee or tea. It also an ideal opportunity to pay yoursubscription for 2015 and to purchase any of the many Gild products we have forsale.

Rising postage costs have caused the Gild Court to regretfully decide to chargepostage for the delivery of Gild products and the Open Morning is an idealopportunity for you to purchase your Gild products and to avoid the extra burden ofpostage.

There will also be the usual raffle and maybe give yourself a chance to spoil yourselfwith a prize of a box of chocolates or a bottle of wine. We look forward to seeing youfor a chat and listen to your comments.

An Edwardian Eveningin the Community Centre at the Holt

Saturday 11th April 2015 at 7.30pmBuffet Supper and Drinks included - Admission £8.50

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We welcome back the always popular Felicity Austin to the Holt and she will tell usabout Leicester in the Edwardian era and invite us to join in with some of the songs thatwere popular with our grandparents. Felicity will once again be in costume for her talk.

Come along for what promises to be a most enjoyable evening.

Please book as soon as possible using the booking form included in this issue

Common HallWednesday, 15th April 2015 - Council Chamber, Town Hall,

7.15 pm for 7.30pm

(Please note the earlier start time)Our Annual General Meeting will be held, as usual, in the Council Chamber of theTown Hall, Leicester. It will be opened by the Lord Mayor, President of the Gild, and isthe occasion when all members can have their say on Gild Matters. Associates arealso invited to attend.

We are looking forward to more members getting involved in Gild matters and itwould be encouraging if all new Freemen were to attend Common Hall and to givetheir thoughts. It is important that the planned events cover the wide age range ofour members and we would particularly appeal to our younger members to attend(so that you can arrange, or help arrange, events suitable for that group).

A tasty buffet will be served in the Lord Mayor’s Tea Room after the business part ofthe evening has concluded.

The Gild Annual BanquetSaturday 6th June 2015

Devonshire Place, London Road, LeicesterThis year will be the sixth year that the Gild have held their Annual Banquet at DevonshirePlace and all freemen, not just Gild members, are invited with their family and friends.It is an ideal way for new freemen (and that includes lady freemen) to find out what weare all about and what makes us tick.

The event has been a great success in previous years; attended by freemen not justfrom Leicester but from many other guilds up and down the country. The Gild Courthas received nothing but plaudits from those who attended in the past, so much so thatsome of the visiting freemen from other Guilds consider our banquet to be the highlightof the year. Tickets this year will be maintained at £40.00 per head.

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Devonshire Place is an excellent venue providing top class food accompanied by topclass service and, of course, the company is also top class. The Banqueting Hall is setout with round tables which make for easy conversation with your neighbours andensures that no-one is left out at the end of the row.

A number of us attend banquets organized by other Freemen’s Guilds and wherever wego we are made welcome, and we like to reciprocate. Freemen from whichever town orcity they hail from are friendly, and I like to think that we are as well.

The following morning, Sunday 7th June, the Freemen’s Annual Church Service will beheld in St Martin’s Cathedral and all freemen and their families are invited to attendregardless of whether or not they attended the banquet.If you would like to reserve your places at the banquet please complete the bookingform in the centre of the Gildhall News and return it to Andy Marriott at the address on

the form.

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

History of Freemen – Part 13,

The 17th CenturyAlthough the 17th century is dominated by the Civil War and the rise of Oliver Cromwell,events in Leicester included other moments of note.

A great deal of buying and selling land took place by the Corporation during the earlypart of the 17th century, not all of it for the benefit of the coffers of the town funds. In1624 the Corporation purchased land from Lord Spencer in the South Fields of Leicesteradjacent to land that was already held as common land, and the following year purchasedland from William Franke known as the Upper Pringle along with land in the High Fields.Furthermore, the Corporation purchased the Castle Mills from Sir Edward Moseley forthe benefit of the town population, (one of their few altruistic transactions).

A little earlier in the century the Corporation had incorporated the Newark Hospital inthe name of the Mayor, Bailiff and Burgesses from a former Master of the LeicesterCorporation, Mr. Fowkes, for a financial consideration.

The practice of selling and leasing town property to members of the companies of 24aldermen and 48 burgesses continued throughout the major part of the 17th century. Itwas agreed by the Corporation that Grange land should only be leased to Freemen ofLeicester and only to those who reside within the town. However, members of theCorporation held the most valuable leases.

In 1670 Mayor William Dean was subjected to a definite accusation of corruption byway of a rhyme at the head of an account of the sale of land in the Borough Records:

Dean! Dean, double Dean, the child that is to bear

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shall curse the time when Dean was mayor

for cutting of the stroke and selling the town’s land

and putting the money in squinting Pollard’s hand.

Also occurring in the early part of the 17th century was friction between farmers andfreemen over the use of common land in the South Fields. Excessive grazing of sheep bythe farmers over existing grass created a shortage for horses and cattle grazed by thefreemen, particularly as the use of horses in general use had increased in recent years.

During the 17th century between a third and a half of the common land in the countrywas enclosed for private use and Leicester and Leicestershire were no exception, so thepopulation was finding it more and more difficult to be self sufficient. As a result of theenclosure of lands serious riots broke out and orders were received for the collection ofarms and mustering of men to quell the riots. A gibbet was erected to dissuadeparticipation in the riots and Lord Huntingdon arrested the Mayor, Mr. Heyricke, onsuspicion of sympathizing with the rioters Those opposed to the enclosures wereexpecting some support from the new Commonwealth Parliament as Oliver Cromwellwas himself opposed to the land grab, but they were to be disappointed by the lack ofaction by the Government. Indeed, in 1649 several men were arrested for spreadingfalse rumours that the Commonwealth Parliament was ordering the removal ofenclosures.

Apart from the land problems there were changes taking place in the trade and commerceof Leicester with new industries and trades arriving. In 1632 corporations were directedby the Privy Council to nominate persons to sell tobacco and in Leicester five out of thenine nominated were either mercers (cloth merchants) or grocers with close ties to theCorporation.

The Tailors Company was finding difficulty in maintaining trading privileges because ofstrangers not paying scot and lot and setting up their business in the suburbs and sellingtheir services undercutting the established tailors. In 1674 a tailor by the name ofShilcock who had served seven years apprenticeship was finding it difficult to providehimself with a sustainable living. He purchased a quantity of cloth from abroad andmade ready-made garments (as opposed to made to measure) and sold them to poorpeople. Could this be the forerunner of Primark? Some of the strangers after setting uptheir business applied for freedom and some of those who were unsuccessful and deniedtheir freedom set up as ‘botchers’, (menders of clothes).

Members of the Cordwainers Company also had some difficulty in maintaining theirtrade privileges for the same reason as the tailors. The burgesses ruled that no mancould claim his freedom through apprenticeship unless that apprenticeship was servedin a trade that usually and legally took apprenticeships. This regulation was aimed atcobblers who set up shops and took on apprentices as cheap labour repairing shoesonly and did not make new shoes.

A new trade that was coming to the fore and would influence trade in Leicester for along time to come was that of stocking makers (hosiery). In the latter part of the century

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new mechanical means were introduced offering benefits of quantity over quality andthe Industrial Revolution was beginning.

Laws governing the making and selling of beer and the control of alehouses and innswere widely disregarded except in times of tumult as experienced in the riots.

Freedom still remained a valuable privilege and applications were only considered withregard to economic reasons for the ability to trade legally except where the applicantrequired freedom in order to stand for the borough as a member of parliament. In1669 Samuel Brown applied for freedom of the borough and was refused because hewas a Quaker.

Sadly records during the Commonwealth and Protectorate Period are scarce but religiousintolerance was prevalent. The army was the guardian of religious observance andtook its responsibilities seriously. In 1649 two men were arrested in Leicester forpossessing heretical books which were considered to be of dangerous consequenceand could lead to atheism and prophanity.

Observance of the Sabbath was strict and parents were fined for allowing their childrento play on the Lord’s Day and one man was placed in the stocks for ringing the churchbells. Christmas celebrations were outlawed and the wearing of colourful clothes couldresult in severe punishment. When Oliver Cromwell died and his son Richard succeededhim as Lord Protector he proved to be no match for his father and became known as‘Tumble down Dick’. General Monk marched down from Scotland in 1660 and verysoon the Mayor of Leicester was expressing great joy at the return of King Charles II,and though this show of loyalty may well have been sincere, it was not accepted assuch. But more of this later.

John Tolton

BROMKINSTHORPE

Paul Ross has been looking at some old maps of Leicester and came acrossBromkinsthorpe. This is now the Tudor Road / King Richard’s Road area of the City.Not having heard the name before he thought that you may be interested to readfurther details that he found on the internet. Follow the link below:

http://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/leics/vol4/pp380-383#fnn2

Vacancy - Election of Clerk at Common HallThere is a vacancy for the Clerk to the Court. If you are interested in undertaking

this role, and would like further information, please contact the Master, LynnRoffee e-mail : lynnroffee@hotmail.com. Please note that there will be

elections for Wardens and Officers as well. There are four Court meetings a year,with occasional task and finish meetings for Common Hall and the Banquet,

so the time commitment is minimal

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The Haircut

A teenage boy had just passed his driving test and inquired of hisfather as to when they could discuss his use of the car.

His father said he’d make a deal with his son, “You bring your gradesup from a C to a B average, study your Bible a little and get your hair cut. Then we’lltalk about the car.”

The boy thought about that for a moment, decided he’d settle for the offer and theyagreed on it.

After about six weeks his father said, “Son, you’ve brought your grades up and I’veobserved that you have been studying your Bible, but I’m disappointed you haven’thad your hair cut.”

The boy said, “You know, Dad, I’ve been thinking about that, and I’ve noticed in mystudies of the Bible that Samson had long hair, John the Baptist had long hair, Moseshad long hair, and there’s even strong evidence that Jesus had long hair.”

The father replied, “Did you also notice that they all walked everywhere they went?”

Atheist in the WoodsAn atheist was walking through the woods. ‘What majestic trees!’What powerfulrivers! ’What beautiful animals! He said to himself.

As he was walking alongside the river, he heard a rustling in the bushes behind him.He turned to look. He saw a 7-foot grizzly bear charge towards him. He ran as fast ashe could up the path. He looked over his shoulder and saw that the bear was closingin on him. He looked over his shoulder again and the bear was even closer. He trippedand fell on the ground. He rolled over to pick himself up but saw that the bear wasright on top of him, reaching for him with his left paw and raising his right paw tostrike him...

At that instant the Atheist cried out, ‘Oh my God! ’Time Stopped. The bear froze. Theforest was silent. As a bright light shone upon the man, a voice came out of the sky.‘You deny my existence for all these years, teach others I don’t exist and even creditcreation to a cosmic accident. Do you expect me to help you out of this predicament?Am I to count you as a believer?’.

The atheist looked directly into the light, ‘It would be hypocritical of me to suddenlyask you to treat me as a Christian now, but perhaps you could make the BEAR aChristian?’ ‘Very well,’ said the voice. The light went out. The sounds of the forestresumed. The bear dropped his right paw, brought both paws together, bowed hishead and spoke: ‘For what I am about to receive, may the Lord make me truly

thankful, Amen.’

19

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 17th April 2015

For your News and Views write to :

Brian Mudford11 Huntsman CloseMarkfieldLeicestershireLE67 9XE

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

20

June and Maurice Hill with Alan Phillips and one of the NIPPY machinespurchased by monies raised at the Garden Party held in 2014..

Gild products for sale by Lorna Kirk in the Tea room after theMaking Free ceremony on 17th January 2015

Fifteen new Freemen after the M

aking Free ceremony on 17th January 2015 at the Leicester Town H

all. With

them, sitting on the front row are from

left to right Mrs. Lynn Roffee, M

aster of the Gild of Freem

en, BarryD

aniell a mem

ber of the Board of Deputies, the Lord M

ayor of Leicester, Councillor John Thomas, Brian

Mudford, Chairm

an of the Board of Deputies and Andy M

arriott, Chamberlain of the G

ild of Freemen.

BOOKING FORMLong-alley Skittles Night at the Coach & Horses @ 7pm

Friday 20th February 2015

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

BOOKING FORM

Edwardian Evening with Buffet Supper and drinksSaturday 11th April at Freemen’s Holt 7.30pm

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:

Andy Marriott, 10 Goldhill, Leicester LE2 6TQ. Tel: 0116 2442776Applications will be dealt with strictly on a first-come, first served basis.

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:Andy Marriott, 10 Goldhill, Leicester LE2 6TQ. Tel: 0116 2442776Applications will be dealt with strictly on a first-come, first served basis.

BOOKING FORM

Gild Gala BanquetSaturday 6th June 2015 at Devonshire Place

Please reserve................places at £40.00 each

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

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

Leicester Cathedral on Sunday 7th June 2015

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

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

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

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

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

My guests will be:

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

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

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

Please advise on any special dietary requirements or vegetarian mealsagainst guest name

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

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

“Gild of Leicester Freemen”

Please send to: Andy Marriott 10 Goldhill, Leicester LE2 6TQ.Tel: 0116 2442776

E-mail:

Applications will be dealt with strictly on a first-come, first served basis.No bookings will be accepted after 25th May 2015.

RENEWAL OF GILD MEMBERSHIPFOR THE YEAR 1ST APRIL 2015 - 31ST MARCH 2016

I would like to pay the annual subscription for my membership/associatemembership of the Gild for the year commencing 1st April 2015

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:

Andy Marriott, 10 Goldhill, Leicester LE2 6TQ.

Any queries, please phone Andy on 0116 2442776

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:Andy Marriott,10 Goldhill,LeicesterLE2 6TQ

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 Plc,Old Market Square Branch,Nottingham NG1 6FD(Bank Sort Code 30-96-18)

For the account of the Gild of Leicester Freemen

(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)OrI 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:

Andy Marriott, 10 Goldhill, Leicester LE2 6TQ. Tel: 0116 2442776

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. Gild scarf ...........at £15.00 each = £................3. Key-ring ………at £5.00 each = £………….4. Lapel badge ………at £2.50 each = £………….5. Cufflinks ..........at £16.00 each = £………….6. Gild pens - new design ………at £3.00 each = £………….7. Arm badge - framed …...…at £55.00 each = £………….

- unframed .....….at £20.00 each = £………….8. Blazer badge .........at £13.50 each =£..............9. Wall plaque, wooden …..…at £24.00 each = £………….10. Gown, made to measure, incl. delivery.....price on request = £………….

(Chest ..........ins, height..........ft...........ins).11. Register of Freemen- 1931-85 ………at £4.00 each = £………….

- 1986-96 ………at £3.00 each = £………….

TOTAL = £………….plus postage

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: Andy Marriott, 10 Goldhill, Leicester LE2 6TQ.Tel: 0116 2442776