Chiswick Royal British Legion Given Freedom Of Borough

Amongst the seven local branches to be honoured for dedicated work

Former MP Mary Macleod of the Chiswick branch with Councillor Robert Oulds

The Chiswick branch of the Royal British Legion (RBL) was amongst the seven local branches granted the honorary Freedom of the Borough of Hounslow this week.

Hounslow is the first Council to present the accolade to all of the RBL branches in its borough. It is the first time since 2009 that the honour was bestowed on an organisation.

Beginning with a Mayoral procession, the event took place at the Lampton Park Conference Centre, next to the Civic Centre in Lampton Road.

Councillor Ajmer Grewal, Mayor of Hounslow and Councillor Steve Curran, Leader of Hounslow Council led the way for the Council to explain that the dedicated long service that supports so many veterans and current serving personnel and their families, was the reason behind bestowing the Freedom of the Borough.

Councillors paid tributes to the seven Hounslow RBL branches’ eminent contributions to the borough over the years - Hounslow, Chiswick, Brentford, Isleworth, Heston, Hanworth and Bedfont and Hatton.

The Royal British Legion was formed on 15 May 1921, bringing together four national organisations of ex-servicemen [later to incorporate servicewomen] that had established themselves after the First World War.

The main purpose of the RBL was to care for those who had suffered as a result of service in the Armed Forces during the war, whether through their own service or that of a husband, father or son. This included the effect an injury had on a man’s ability to earn a living and supporting his family once returned from war or a war widow’s struggle to give her children an education

Also in attendance were Mary Harpley, Chief Executive of Hounslow Council, cabinet members and councillors and Maria Pedro, Deputy Lieutenant for Hounslow [The Queen’s Representative].

The award is conferred to people of all walks of life who have given outstanding service to the people of Hounslow. Not since 2009 has the Freedom of the Borough been presented to an organisation.

Councillor Steve Curran, Leader of Hounslow Council, said: “The Freedom of the Borough has been given to all seven branches of the Royal British Legion for the tremendous work they do.

“Each branch is an integral part of our community. I think all of us at some point have had a connection with the Royal British Legion and we all know how much support is given to so many.

“To present the Freedom of the Borough to them is the biggest honour we as a Council can give and it is also an honour for us to be able to do this.”

The Freedom of the borough is connected to the medieval concept of "free status", when city and town charters drew a distinction between freemen and vassals of a feudal Lord. As such, freemen actually pre-date modern boroughs and corporations.

Early Freedom of the Boroughs ceremonies had great importance in affirming that the recipient enjoyed privileges such as the right to trade and own property, and protection within the town.

Before parliamentary reform in 1832, freedom of the city or town conferred the right to vote in the 'parliamentary boroughs' for the MPs. Until the Municipal Corporations Act 1835 the Freemen were the exclusive electorate for the boroughs.

In contemporary society, the award of Honorary Freedom of a City or Borough tends to be entirely ceremonial, given by the local government in many Towns and Cities on those who have served in some exceptional capacity, or upon any whom the City wishes to bestow an honour, it requires a special meeting of the Council which passes the resolution by a two thirds majority.

April 6, 2017