Mr Borrow-Longain accompanied by Mr David A Hovey attended the Chamberlain’s Court at
Guildhall in London, where he took the Oath of a Freeman of the City of London.

The Freedom of the City of London started around 1237 as the status of a ‘free man’ or ‘citizen’,
protected by the charter of the City of London and not under the jurisdiction of a feudal lord. In
the Middle Ages, this developed into a freedom or right to trade, becoming closely linked to the
mediaeval guilds, the livery companies. The freedom that citizens enjoy has long associations
with privileges in the governance of the City.

Whilst no longer carrying many substantive rights and largely existing as a tradition, the freedom
is a prerequisite for standing for election to the Common Council and Court of Aldermen of the
City of London. The Lord Mayor of the City must first become an alderman, and hence must also
be a freeman.