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Number 71 May 2015

Statue of King Richard IIIrelocated near to

Leicester Cathedral

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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 7th 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 2015 - 2016Master: L.A. Roffee

Deputy Master: A. MarriottClerk: L.A. Roffee

Chamberlain: A. Marriott

WARDENSM.E. Ayres, N. Cave, M.B.Hill, L. Kirk,

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

Number 71 May 2015

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GILDHALL NEWSMay 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 7

Chamberlain’s Report by Andy Marriott 8

Report on the FEW by Michael Ayres 9

Common Hall Report 10

Over to You! 10

Income and expenditure account for the year ending 31 March 2015 21

Future programme - dates for your diary

Saturday 6th June, Annual Gild Banquet at Devonshire Place

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

Thursday 20th August, Visit to Beaumanor Hall in Woodhouse

Saturday 14th November, Arming a Knight, an evening talk with buffet at the Holt

Friday 18th December, Visit to see the pantomime Aladdin at the Little Theatre

Contributions to the Gildhall News

Once in a Liftime 12

Donation to the Freemen of Leicester 14

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

For Amusement OnlyThe Gas Men 17

No one believes seniors any more 18

A Call to the Station 18

Sudoku puzzles - Easy, Medium & Hard 19

Have you changed your address? 22

Forms included with Newsletter

Booking form for visit to Beaumanor Hall

Booking form to see the Aladdin pantomime

Booking form for the Annual Gild Banquet

Application for Membership & Associate Membership of the Gild

Order form for Gild products

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Editor’s CommentsIs there any Leicester freemen out there who would like totake over the position of Editor of the Gildhall News? Itwouldn’t be immediate but over a period of time. I am willingto show someone what is required and work together overseveral issues. I have been the Editor for over 10 years and Iam getting no younger. I think it is time to hand over the job tosomeone else. So please let me know if you are interested, youare welcome to telephone me and discuss what is involved.

If you have a story that would be of interest to othermembers, please put pen to paper, or finger to e-mail. We don’t need a book, only ashort article, possibly one or two pages long. It could be longer if it’s enthralling!!Have you researched your Family History and have found an interesting story of afamily member that would be of interest? Preferably I would like to receive them asan attachment to an e-mail if possible, but pen and ink is acceptable.

Brian Mudford

Report by Lynn Roffee, Master of the GildIt has been a busy couple of months for some members of theGild Court, who have been busy preparing for Common Hall,the Annual Banquet, and planning events for the forthcomingyear. This year we have a Freeman from Australia attending theBanquet – so it seems distance is not an issue! If you do notown a dinner suit/evening dress it’s not a problem, but smartdress is required.

The Annual Leicester Freemen’s Service, which is to be held atLeicester Cathedral, is open to all Freemen including non-Gild

members. It would be nice to see you at this service where you can meet members ofother Gilds/Guilds from around the country.

On 30th January the Gild was invited, by St Mary de Castro, to attend Mass tocommemorate the martyrdom of King Charles 1st. He was tried and convicted forhigh treason, and on this day in 1649 he was executed. Eight Freemen, mostly robed,attended.

Following on from the Royal theme, the Gild was invited, by Leicester City Council, tojoin the City Mayor and the Lord Mayor to welcome the coffin containing the mortalremains of King Richard III at the medieval City boundary at Bow Bridge. There werecheers, clapping and salutations made to Richard, and white roses being thrown, asthe cortege entered the city. Ten robed Freemen joined the walking processionfollowing the cortege from Bow Bridge to St Nicholas, the oldest church in Leicester.

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The crowds deepened around the church and silence fell across the crowd asthe cortege arrived. Although the service was short it actively involved thecongregation and the prayers echoed those of past centuries. I had to pinchmyself for being there and to be so close to the coffin, as the King’s remainswere brought in, and then taken out of the church.

As we left the church, and stood in line along Holy Bones, waiting for thecoffin to be transferred to a horse drawn hearse, you could have heard a pindrop. There were hundreds of people waiting outside, but the only soundsthat could be heard were the clicking of the media cameras and one of thecortege horses moving its foot backwards and forwards on the tarmac. It’s asound that that I can still hear and the memory will remain with me.

Twelve Gild Members were invited to the Reveal Service of King Richard III. Itwas originally to be a non-robed event with no civic procession. However,with less than two weeks to go, we were requested, if possible, for Freemento be robed and there was to be a civic procession. At the end of the servicethe congregation was invited to view the tomb. Like thousands of people, Ihad queued to view the coffin, and now the tomb. It was the conclusion of anextraordinary week in Leicester and the County. However, I couldn’t resistreturning to the Cathedral gardens later that night to see the 8,000 flames.

I’d like to encourage those who have taken their freedom to join the Gild andto get more involved in Gild events. We do need your support to participate inthe planned events/trips that are run for Gild members and their families.Please do contact me if you would like to help arrange an event (especiallyyounger Freemen), or have ideas for talks, day trips or how to grow the Gildmembership etc. If you have family members that are eligible to take theirfreedom, please encourage them to contact the Civic office and to submittheir application.

Finally, I’d like to thank the Gild Court for their support, time andcommitment given during this last year, and to our Patron and President, andto members & associates for their continuing support. Can I remindmembers/associates that haven’t paid their fees, which are due from April, toplease do so ASAP. To those that paid on time – thank you!

The Gild is working on plans to celebrate its fortieth year next year and we arein the early stages. Further details will be in future GHN’s and on the website.

Lynn Roffee

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Report by Chairman of the Board - Brian MudfordIt is a great honour to be re-elected Chairman of the Boardof Deputies at the AGM in March. I look forward to aninteresting and challenging term of office. I would like tothank the committee chairmen and my fellow Deputies fortheir hard work during the past year.

The Board now comprises of 16 Deputies. The diverseskills and experience of the Board is a valuable resource inmaintaining and developing the services provided for theFreemen of Leicester. If you are a Freeman of Leicesterand have a few hours a month to spare, and would be

interested in joining the Board please email office@leicesterfreemen.com or phone

Lynda on 0116 283 4017.

During the last twelve months we have been trialing a new committee and meetingstructure. This involved the creation of a new Planning committee which is intendedto enable the Board to conduct more work that will provide the extra capacity tosucceed in our ambitions for the charity.

The Annual Inspection of the estate by the Deputies took place on Saturday 11h April.This will be used to prepare a project plan for improvements and any remedial workrequired through the coming year. The Board also has an ongoing development planfor the estate which for 2015 includes the following major enhancements:

· Bungalow 28 has recently been completed and is the first bungalow to havean extension built to the front. The extended kitchen, new lobby area, extradouble room and washroom give a spacious feel to the bungalow and theresidents are delighted with the result.

· Bungalow 12 has been allocated to a new couple who will move in whenwork on this extended property is fully completed. This extension includes anew lobby area and double room providing valuable extra space. The newpatio doors in the lounge open out onto an extended block paved patio areato the rear of the property.

· Bungalow 25 has been refurbished, redecorated and was recently allocatedto a resident who is looking forward to moving into her new home later inthe year.

· Bungalow 7 has also been redecorated and when allocated to a new residentthey will have input to layout and style of new kitchen units and worktops tobe fitted.

· Two more standard bungalows have recently become available and are dueto be refurbished during May.

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· Work to extend bungalow 17 (another front extension) has incurred a 6week delay due to unforeseen problems and bungalow 34 will also beextended (out to the rear) later in the year.

Extended bungalows are more appealing for couples and attract more applications,but not all bungalows are suitable to be extended. The Deputies agreed thatextended bungalows will only be offered to couples although all applications will beconsidered and allocated on the basis of “need” as per the Statutory Instruments.

The Open Day on 24th February was successful with quite a few interested Freemenvisiting to have a look around and ask questions about living at the Holt. MB Hillhosted the day and S Jinks and RA Staines also attended. Residents David Johnsonand John Tolton came along to talk with the visitors and kindly showed them aroundtheir bungalows. Some Freemen were keen to return for a further visit with otherfamily members.

Freemen’s Holt is looking in good order, the grass, shrubs and flowerbeds are beingwell maintained. Everything is looking good for the summer.

Brian Mudford

Chamberlain’s Report by Andy MarriottThe Gild accounts have now been audited by our Honorary Auditor Maurice Hill and arerecorded as a true picture of the Gilds accounts in the year ending 31st March 2015

This year has been my first year as the Chamberlain to the Gild and I would like to takethis opportunity to thank the other wardens of the court for their continued supportover the past year.

A copy of the Income and expenditure account for the year ending 31 March 2015 is shown onpage 21

Some things of note are that the accounts do not show are cheques awaiting paymentinto the bank, as I took the decision to cease all payment activity until after 31st march2015 as the cut off point for auditing purposes. These cheques have since been depositedand will be reflected in the accounts for the financial year 2015 to 2016.

I have also set up and created an electronic data base where all payments of subscriptionsfor membership and contact details are recorded. I have also moved the Gilds accountingbook for this current year to an electronic format with the intention of enabling easierreporting of the Gilds accounts to the Wardens of the Court, which will I hope be aneasier process.

I’m pleased to report that Maurice Hill has kindly offered to be the Honorary Auditorfor this year.

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In summing up I can report that the Gild’s finances show a decrease in value whencompared with the last audit completed in 2014. This appears to be mainly due to someGild members being in arrears with their subscriptions payments.

I would ask, please, that if you have not yet paid your subs for this year can I remind youthat they are now due. If you do not pay within the next six months then your name willbe removed from the Gilds membership records. I do very much hope that this will actas a reminder and look forward to receiving the fees that are due.

Andy Marriott

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

On Saturday 14th March I represented the Leicester Gild at the FEW Court meetingwhich was hosted by the Freemen of Northampton and held in the NorthamptonGuild Hall, (see photograph on back cover)

One of the main discussions at the meeting, was the amount of expenses’ membersof the FEW Executive Committee would be able to claim travelling to meetings. Witha number of long discussions taking place it was finally establish that they would beable to claim up to a maximise of 35 pence per mile. Train and public transportexpenses can be claimed on summiting the receipts.

The Guild representative attending the meeting should claim their expenses fromtheir own Gild.

One of the other discussions held during the meeting is the lack of interest frommembers of the FEW to serve on the Executive Committee of the FEW. Two membersof the committee are holding two positions which is not an ideal situation.

This also applies to the Freemen from other Guilds; no one these days seemsinterested on serving on the Guild Courts. If this does not change within the next fewyears there will be no Freemen’s Guild in existence. The full report of this meetingwill be published in the FEW journal no 181.

The next meeting of the FEW will be the AGM hosted this year by the Gild of Freemenof Berwick–upon-Tweed, will be held from 11th to 13th September in the Guild HallBerwick-upon-Tweed. The complete cost of the weekend package is £97 per person.Plus the weekend accommodation

Hotels and a booking form are available by contacting Berwick-upon-Tweed SecretaryMrs. S. Weatherburn. 9 Lovaine Terrace Berwick-upon-Tweed Northumberland TD151LA. Phone 01289 298579 e-mail weathburn@lowgreens.wanadoo.co.uk

Michael Ayres

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Common Hall – 15th April 2015This year’s Common Hall was held in the Council Chamber at the Town Hall onWednesday 15th April to elect three Court Members and to elect Officers of the Courtas identified in the Notice of Common Hall.

Gild members were welcomed to the Council Chamber by the Lord Mayor, CouncillorJohn Thomas accompanied by his consort who both retired from the meeting beforethe business of the evening took place. The Gild Master Lynn Roffee chaired themeeting and gave the Gild’s annual report.

The three retiring members from the Court were Andy Marriott, Maurice Hill andTony Chettle (the latter did not seek re-election). There were no nominations for athird member so Andy and Maurice were re-elected by a show of hands to serve onthe court for a three year period.

Lynn Roffee was elected Master of the Gild, Andy Marriott Deputy Master and theChamberlain. Due to no volunteers for the post of Clerk, Lynn Roffee offered and waselected. Brian Mudford was elected as Editor and John Tolton elected as Archivist.Mick Ayres was elected as Gild Representitive of the Freemen of England and Wales(FEW).

After the business of the evening was concluded the members retired to the tea

rooms for refreshments.

Over to you!With Common Hall behind us and a brand new year ahead I thought I’d take amoment to sit and write this article as a personal message to you all. So withoutfurther ado let me start this article with a heartfelt thank you from the Wardens ofthe Court to all those Gild members that attended Common Hall this year and apersonal thank you for all those that supported me and showed their continuedsupport for my continuation as Gild Chamberlain and in taking the position of DeputyMaster of the Gild.

The Leicester Gild of Freemen of the City of Leicester is soon to celebrate its 40th

Anniversary and I thought this would be a good time to write to you all and ask thequestions. What would you like from your Gild? How would you like to see your Gildprogress? What can do we do that would make your Gild better? What are we gettingright? And what can we improve on? How can we attract more members to yourGild? How can we attract younger members to the Gild?

This is your Gild so please let us know your thoughts, ideas and feelings and help usto get this right for you and help us to continue the Gild for another 40 years.

So now it’s over to you! Please send your thoughts, ideas and feelings. I can’t promisewe will be able to do everything you ask or suggest but I can promise we will look ateach and every response.

Andy Marriott, 10 Goldhill, Leicester LE2 6TQ or andymarriott@live.co.uk

Andy MarriottDeputy Master & Chamberlain

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Programme of Future Events

Visit to Beaumanor HallWoodhouse LE12 8TX

on Thursday 20th August 2015 at 6pmThe full tour takes around 2 hours & 30 minutes, which includes a break for tea andbiscuits. You will visit the main rooms in the Hall & Cellars and outside you will see thebuildings erected in WW11 when Beaumanor Hall was a Y station and go into at leasttwo of them.

Cost is £6.00 per person payable on entry.

Places are limited. Parking available.

Please complete booking form included in this issue and return to

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

by Friday 31 July 2015

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 to find out what we are all about and what makes ustick. It is only a few weeks away, so if you have not booked yet please do not delayand complete the booking form included in this issue as soon as possible to reserveyour seats and return it to Andy Marriott at the address on the form.

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.

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.

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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.

Visit to the Little Theatre , Dover Street, Leicesterto see Aladdin on Friday 18th December 2015

starting at 7 pm.A perfect Christmas treat for all the family!

Please book early for this traditional family pantomime - freemen, family and friends.Tickets cost £14 for adults and £12 for children (under 16). Tickets will be allocatedon a first-come, first served basis.

Please complete the application form in CAPITAL LETTERS and make sure youraddress is clear. We don’t want to send your tickets to the wrong address.

Please note that we have to return unsold tickets to the Little Theatre by theend of October, so don’t delay in booking your seats.

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

Once in a Lifetime by Kathy Stott

King Richard lll has returned for a royal burial.

On Sunday 22nd March I was in the huge crowd of people who went to see theremains of King Richard III enter Leicester for a burial fit for the king he was.

When I was very young (5yrs old ) I lived at the back of Central station on a roadcalled Alexander Terrace. Memories of Sunday mornings visiting my grandparents onOutram Street and Millstone Lane would see us walk up Bath Lane and throughCastle gardens (Sparrow Park) as it was affectionately known. I well remember seeingregularly swans on the canal and in the fishing season fishermen along the canalbanks.

Recently archaeology in the area of Alexander Terrace has been completed and nowstudent accommodation is being built. My father ( Ray Daniell ) recalls many a tale of

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bones and artefacts being uncovered and just discarded whilst he was working in thebuilding trade at Donisthorpe Hosiery factory close to Alexander Terrace.

History has always been of great interest to me and the discovery of King Richard III’sremains so close to where I lived and walked ( again many memories can be recalled)is very fitting.

It was my intention to revisit the Bath Lane area to see the King Richard III cortegeenter the City of Leicester over Bow bridge ( just a short way from Bath Lane ).

With my husband who is also named Richard we set off on our journey ( fromShepshed where I now live) into Leicester by using the park and ride at Birstall.

The day was fantastic and we were able to watch the cortege from Bath lane as wehad planned. On arrival we enjoyed a picnic in the castle gardens where I noticed thatswans were on the canal and with the sun shining it was the perfect setting for theoccasion.

The cortege arrived and as it passed, amidst the solemnity of the occasion on seeingthe members of the Leicester Gild of Freemen, I felt a great sense of pride that in mylifetime I have seen this important part of British history, and am now a Freeman ofLeicester myself.

Kathy Stott

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Donation to the Freemen of LeicesterThe following details were received from Rachel Sandry:

My grandfather Arthur Pywell unfortunately passed away in September lastyear. He was incredibly proud to be a freeman of Leicester and came from along family line of freemen of the City. After his passing we decided that wewould celebrate the freemenship that he was so lucky to be a part of duringhis send off. The retiring collection was donated to the Freemen of Leicesterand we were so pleased to raise money for something that was so close to hisheart.

The Freemen’s Charity was very pleased to receive the thoughtful donation inmemory of Arthur.

History of Freemen – Part 14

After The Commonwealth

On the 12th of May 1660 King Charles II was duly proclaimed in Leicester at the HighCross. The current Mayor of Leicester, John Clay, along with the civic dignitaries whohad taken up office during the period of the Commonwealth, welcomed therestoration of the Monarchy, although with a degree of unease. For many years theMember of Parliament elected by the Corporation to represent Leicester at the time ofCromwell had been Sir Arthur Hazlerigg (although not the present MP in 1660) whowas one of a group responsible for the execution of Charles I and their connectionwith such an anti-royalist was of great concern to those freemen who were membersof the corporation. In the hope of proving their loyalty to the new king theCorporation presented a gift of £300 in gold, in a rich purse of silk brocade, carried toLondon by three of the aldermen and the two chamberlains, attended by threesergeants at mace. The present could not have impressed the King as by October 1662the Leicester Corporation had been purged of 40 members, 15 being aldermen, and 25common councilmen (comburgesses).

It may be recalled that in the reign of Henry VII the freemen at large had beendisenfranchised and no longer had the right to vote neither for the members of theCorporation nor for the Members of Parliament representing Leicester. The aldermenand comburgesses of the corporation had been self electing, replacing any lostalderman from the comburgesses, and any lost comburgess by selection fromoutside, providing he was deemed suitable by the aldermen. Quite often theselection made was from the county landed gentry ensuring the political bias of theCorporation remained consistent.

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Five times in the following 29 years the corporation of Leicester was remodeled.Three times a new charter was drawn up. The Corporation Act of 1661 imposed uponall mayors, aldermen, common councilors, recorders, and other corporation officersthe obligation to take the oaths of allegiance and supremacy, to repudiate by aformal declaration the rightfulness of resistance to the monarch by force of arms.Commissioners were appointed for each county and given power until March 1663‘by order and warrant to displace or remove’ any members or officers they shouldthink fit, even though they might have taken or be willing to take the oaths and fulfillthe other requirements stated in the Act. In fact, for fifteen months the rights andpowers of the corporations were virtually suspended. Leicester was investigated byJohn Bale, Thomas Merry, George Faunt, William Whalley, and Richard Orton. Fauntand Orton were deputy-lieutenants, and Faunt was one of the knights of the shireelected in 1661. No trace seems to have survived of the detailed grounds of rejectionand choice of the 40 members of the Corporation in 1662. The interests of the Crownwere watched in Leicester by Henry, Lord Loughborough, and in October 1662 afterthe removal of the 40 councilors the new corporation reported to LordLoughborough.

In 1663 the first steps were taken for the review of the town’s privileges, in line withthe general policy of the government. Acting under advice, they considered whatimprovements they (the Corporation) might ask for: a confirmation of the tradeprivileges; a new horse market; and above all a strengthening of their jurisdiction inthe suburbs and fields by the exclusion of the county officers although the latterrequest was not pushed for nor received.

Letters patent were received on 20 January 1665 which contained two principlepoints. The first was the great emphasis on the oaths of allegiance and supremacy.The other was the provision that the appointment to certain offices, of a legal andjudicial sort, of ‘recorder, steward, solicitor or common clerk’, was to depend on royalapproval and licence, and a month or so later, the king formally approved theappointment as town clerk of John Hackle in succession to Edward Palmer.

The insistence on the qualifying oaths had the disadvantage that the pretence ofconscientious refusal could be made the excuse for refusing office. In 1665 EdwardBillers, William Warburton, and William Orton were actually summoned fromLeicester to the Privy Council, and detained in custody, because they refused to takethe usual oaths and to pay the consequent fines.

The letters patent of 1665 made no reference to the election of parliamentaryrepresentation of the borough by way of returning the right to vote by the freemen.From the time of Henry VII until the Restoration burgesses had been elected in theCommon Hall, the commonalty as a whole being excluded. In February 1661 themayor, in the course of a discussion with Lord Loughborough about the election soonto be held, hoped that this would continue. He requested that Lord Loughboroughwould recommend someone well known in the town, for the recommendation of astranger might provoke the commonalty to interfere in the election. A double return

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was made involving three candidates, none of them strangers to the town. John Greywas already known as a member, and had family connections with the Earl ofRutland. Sir William Hartopp was a well-established county landowner, living atRotherby. The third, Sir John Pretyman, was lord of the manor and patron of theliving of Loddington. Hartopp’s name was in both returns, so that the issue laybetween Grey and Pretyman.

For whatever reason, the House of Commons determined in favour of Pretyman,although it may have been because of the three candidates Pretyman was the onlyone who was never to have been made a freeman. Pretyman for a time held theoffice of Receiver of First Fruits and Tenths, but was found in December 1663 to beindebted to the Crown in respect of the moneys of that office, £19,864 9s. 9d. Afterlong processes his estate at Loddington was impounded in 1671 on account of the£16,000 or more still owing. In other ways Pretyman was not an ideal member. In1670 he was suspended for abuse of privilege by using it to get out of the King’sBench prison a certain Robert Haimes, whom he untruthfully made out to be his ownmenial servant.

In 1684, pressure to surrender its charters was put upon the corporation by the Earlof Huntingdon, who had only just become Lord Lieutenant. In the end the surrenderwas voted in the Common Hall, 45 votes to 4. Four men were reported by name asvoting against the surrender, Bentley, Brooksby, Harris, and one of the Bents. Evenwhen the surrender had been voted, its execution was delayed, until a new mayorwas not merely elected on the St. Matthew’s Day following, but also sworn in on thenext Michaelmas This was particularly irritating to the earl, who wished to get thesurrender back to the king when he came back from Newmarket on 25 September.

The new charter was issued on 10 December 1684. The companies were reduced insize, though not so far as the earl had at first thought, by the reduction of the 48 to36, the aldermen remaining at 24. The chamberlains were abolished, and their dutiestaken over by two bailiffs. The power of electing burgesses to Parliament was notconfined to the companies as they had wished, but extended to inhabitants payingscot and lot (freemen). Finally, as was only to be expected, the Crown was given, inthe most explicit terms, powers of removal of all officers and members of the hall atpleasure. Of the four who had voted against the surrender, not one remained in thebody as reconstituted,

This new charter had not been long in force when Charles II died on 6 February 1685.In no small degree as a result of the manipulations of the previous three or four yearsthe House of Commons met in a spirit of great loyalty to the Crown, which was onlyaffected by James II’s favour towards Roman Catholics and Dissenters. He set aboutusing methods to abase the Church interest by a new regulation of the municipalities.

This changes began for Leicester in February 1688, when by order taken in the PrivyCouncil eleven aldermen, sixteen of the common councilmen, the bailiff, the townclerk, and the town solicitor were put out, and new men brought in. These new men

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included all those whom named as against the surrender of 1684, the rich dyerEdmund Johnson, Bentley, Brooksby, Bent, Wallin, Dudley, Harris, and Buxton.Significantly they were dispensed from taking the oaths for the defense of the Churchof England which had been expressly included in the charter of 1684. On 22 and 27April there were new removals and appointments, until in all 33 persons who hadbeen named in the charter of 1684 were turned out.

A new charter was issued on 15 September 1688, and many of the changes made in1684 were continued in the charter of 1688. The companies were kept at 24 and 36,the two bailiffs still did the work formerly given to chamberlains, and the Earl ofHuntingdon remained as recorder, with power to appoint his deputy. The new charterstrongly asserted, as the former had done, the Crown’s rights of removal.

In other respects the charter of 1688 went contrary to that of 1684. in that themayor, aldermen, councilmen, and all other officers named were ‘by virtue of theprerogative dispensed, pardoned, remitted, and exonerated’ from taking the oath forthe defense of the Church of England. Only four aldermen and four councilmen of1684 remained in the corporation as reconstituted by this new charter. The charter of1688 made another radical change, it restricted the parliamentary franchise to themayor, aldermen, and common councilmen, a change that the Corporation hadpushed for.

James II abdicated that same year and in 1689 William and Mary became jointsovereigns, and further changes were ahead.

The Gas Men

Two gas company service men, a senior training supervisorand a young trainee, were out checking meters in a suburban

neighbourhood. They parked their truck at the end of the alley and workedtheir way to the other end. At the last house, an old woman looking out herkitchen window watched the two men check her gas meter.

Finishing the meter check, the senior supervisor challenged his younger co-worker to a foot race down the alleyway back to the truck to prove that anolder guy could outrun a younger guy. As they came running up to the truck,they discovered the old lady from the last house was huffing and puffingbehind them in her housecoat and slippers. They stopped and asked herwhat was wrong. Gasping for breath and holding her wig in place, shereplied, “When I see two gas men running as hard as you two were, I figuredI’d better run too!”

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No one believes seniors any moreNo one believes seniors . . . everyone thinks they are senile.

An elderly couple was celebrating their sixtieth anniversary. Thecouple had married as childhood sweethearts and had moved back

to their old neighbourhood after they retired. Holding hands, they walked back totheir old school. It was not locked, so they entered, and found the old desk they’dshared, where Jerry had carved I love you, Sally.

On their way back home, a bag of money fell out of an armoured car, practicallylanding at their feet. Sally quickly picked it up and, not sure what to do with it, theytook it home. There, she counted the money - fifty thousand pounds!

Jerry said, We’ve got to give it back.

Sally said, Finders keepers. She put the money back in the bag and hid it in their attic.

The next day, two police officers were canvassing the neighbourhood looking for themoney, and knocked on their door. Pardon me, did either of you find a bag that fellout of an armoured car yesterday?

Sally said, No.

Jerry said, She’s lying. She hid it up in the attic.

Sally said, Don’t believe him, he’s getting senile

The two police officers turned to Jerry and began to question him.

One said: Tell us the story from the beginning.

Jerry said, Well, when Sally and I were walking home from school yesterday ..........

The first police officer turned to his partner and said, We’re out of here!

A call to the Station

Two policemen call the station on the radio.

“Hello. Is that you Sarge?”

“Yes?”

“We have a case here. A woman has shot her husband for stepping on the floor shehad just mopped clean.”

“Have you arrested the woman?”

“No sir. The floor is still wet.”

19

Sudoku puzzles

Test your mental agility with ourthree puzzles.

Each row, column and 3x3 boxmust contain all the numbers

1 to 9

The answers can be foundon the next page.

Don’t cheat, wait until youhave had a go at completing

all three puzzles

20

Answers to the Sudokupuzzles

21

The Gild of Freemen of the City of LeicesterIncome and expenditure account for the year ending 31 March 2015

2015 2014 £ £ £ £

IncomeEntrance Fees 5 5Annual subscriptions

Gildsmen 1517 2376Associate Members 220 1737 358 2734

Donations 6 25Sales of Gild insignia

Gowns, Ties, badges etc. 264 707Less cost -212 52 -584 122

Bank Interest 2 1Total income 1802 2888

ExpenditureFunctions and events

Expenses 5145 6355Income -4147 998 -6340 15

Printing postage and stationary 625 1444Donations / subscriptions

FEW subscription 60 60Lord Mayor’s Appeal donation 200 200Cathedral Appeal donation 200

Miscellaneous Expenses 517 174Total expenditure 2600 2155

Excess (deficit) of income over expenditure (798) 733

Add balance from previous year 7611 6878Total 6753 7611

Represented byCash at bank 4604 4739Cheques awaiting payment into bank 0 0Petty cash 98 148Stock if Gild insignia 1911 2597Prepayments 200 250

Total 6813 7734

Less cash received in advance and creditors 60 -123Total 6753 7611

I have examined the books of the Gild and can certify that the Income and Expenditure Account trulyreflects their content.Based upon past experience I would make two comments as follows:

1. There would appear to be a number of Members in arrears or have left the Gild2. In the 2014 audit prepared by R. Mason the figure of £15 is very suspect, being so low

Maurice Hill, Honorary AuditorApril 2015

22

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 July 2015

For your News and Views write to :

Brian Mudford11 Huntsman CloseMarkfieldLeicestershireLE67 9XE

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

23

Members of the Gild of Freemen assembling in St. Martin’s House prior to attandingthe Service of Reveal of the Tomb in Leicester Cathedral on Friday 27th March 2015

Group photograph taken at the FEW meeting held in Northamptonon Saturday 14th March 2015

Mem

bers of the Gild of Freem

en walking behind the cortege transporting the mortal rem

ains ofKing Richard III from

Bow Bridge to St. Nicholas church on Sunday 22nd M

arch 2015.

BOOKING FORM

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

BOOKING FORM

Visit to the Little Theatre, Dover Street, LeicesterTo see Aladdin on 18th December 2015

starting at 7 pm

Please reserve ………. places at £6.00 each

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

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

………………………………………………………………………….

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

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

I agree to pay the required entrance fee on the night. Please send to:

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

Please reserve ………. adult places at £14.00 each

............ children places (under 16) at £12.00 each

My name is (CAPITAL LETTERS)……………………………………………………….

My address is (CAPITAL LETTERS)……………………………………………………….

………………………………………………………………………….

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.

Visit to Beaumanor HallWoodhouse LE12 8TX

on Thursday 20th August 2015 at 6pm

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.

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