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Number 50 February 2010

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Gild Banquet Weekend

3rd / 4th July 2010This is to give you advance notice that, after a lapse of somefifteen years or so, the Gild of Freemen of Leicester is proudto announce the organisation of a Banquet Weekend in July2010. We hope to make this an annual event and look forwardto and would appreciate your support.

The Banquet will be held onSaturday 3rd July (7.00pm) in theHolmes Suite at Devonshire Place,78 London Road, Leicester, LE2 0RAthe city’s renowned banquetingestablishment, located half a milefrom the city centre near therailway station and close to several

hotels. There is a carpark at the rear of the building inPrebend Street.

Following a bucks fizz/wine pre-dinner reception, an appetisingfour-course menu, plus coffee and chocolates, has beenselected, with vegetarian alternatives. Tickets cost £36 perhead, please use enclosed booking form. A wine table offeringreasonably priced wines will, of course, be available for dinner.

The Freemen’s Service will be held thefollowing day, Sunday 4th July(10.30am), at St Mary de Castro church,scene of the service celebrating the900th Anniversary of the Leicester Gildin 2007.

If you require any further informationor require details of hotels pleasecontact our Chamberlain, Roger Allen on01530 831151.

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

OFFICERS 2009 - 2010Master: B.W. Mudford

Deputy Master: M.E. AyresClerk: J.E. Tolton

Chamberlain: R. Allen

WARDENSA. Chettle, E.L. Critchlow, J.D. Lewitt,

M.B. Hill, P.K. Ross,

Number 50 February 2010

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GILDHALL NEWSFebruary 2010

ContentsEditor’s comments 5Report by Brian Mudford, Master of the Gild 5Report by Paul Ross, Chairman of the Board 7Report on the F.E.W. by your representitive Michael Ayres 8

Future programme - dates for your diary 9

Wednesday 17th March , Cheese & Wine SupperSunday 28th March , Open Morning at Freemen’s HoltThursday 8th April , Common Hall at Leicester Town HallFriday 23rd April , St. George’s Day Service at St. Mary de CastroSaturday 8th May , Visit to ShrewsburySunday 30th May , Visit to Stratford upon AvonSaturday 3rd July, Gild Banquet at Devonshire Place

Sunday 4th July, Freemen’s Service at St. Mary de Castro

New Gild Members 11Annual Subscriptions 11

Contributions to the Gildhall NewsDown in the Evington Valley 1940, by Norman Pratt 12The “Common Man” continued, by Maurice Hill 15

The Alcester Court Leet, by Derek Austin 17

For Amusement OnlyA Few Senior Male Moments 20A Few Political Quotes 21

Have you changed your address? 22

Forms in the centre of the NewsletterBooking form for Cheese and Wine Supper in March 2010Booking form for visit to ShrewsburyBooking form for visit to Stratford upon AvonBooking form for Gild BanquetApplication for Membership of the GildGild products order formAnnual Subscription formStanding Order formfor Annual subsciption.

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Editor’s CommentsAs I start preparing the 50th issue of the Gildhall News ,Christmas is over and we have seen the New Year in –many of us with a flourish, others in a more mutedfashion, either way happy New Year to you all. The GildCourt has prepared a full programme of events and tripsfor you and we have the Banquet in July to look forwardto. Please put the dates in your diary. The booking form

for the Banquet is in the centre, please consider returning your application assoon as possible so that the organisers have an idea of how many will beattending. Already several of the other Gilds have indicated that theirmembers are interested.

Seventeen new Freemen took their oath in December.For the first time inseveral hundred years, fifteen were lady Freemen. Already a couple of theladies have joined the Gild, welcome to you.

Don’t forget to send those photographs, poems, jokes and articles forpublishing in future issues of the Gildhall News . They should preferably besent as attachments to an e-mail.

Brian Mudford

Report by Brian Mudford, Master of the GildIn the May 2009 issue of the Gildhall News I mentioned the ’Local Democracy,Economic Development and Construction Bill’ that was going throughParliament. This Bill was passed in October 2009 and the Act received RoyalAssent on 12th November 2009. Chapter 5 of the Act is entitled LOCAL FREEDOMS

AND HONORARY TITLES. Section 27 makes provision for a daughter of a freeman of acity or town to be admitted as a freeman where a son would have the right tobe so admitted. It also makes provision for sons and daughters of freemen tobe admitted as freemen irrespective of when and where they were born.

On Saturday 5th December I attended, along with Tony Chettle, thePresentation Ceremony at the Leicester Town Hall, when seventeen newFreemen took their oath (two men and fifteen women) in the presence of theLord Mayor of Leicester, Councillor Roger Blackmore.

I would like to welcome these new Freemen and hope that they will considerjoining the Gild of Freemen, if they haven’t already done so. See inside rearcover for group photograph with one of the new lady freemen.

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The Council informs me that another twenty Freemen will take their oath onTuesday 23rd February 2010.

Since the last issue, the Gild has been involved in the following activities:

Monday 26th October. I, together with Jim and Ted Manship and John Tolton,represented the Freemen of Leicester at the Crown Court Service at St. Maryde Castro in Leicester, attended by the Honourable Mr. Justice Langstaff , theLord Mayor of Leicester, and The High Sheriff of Leicestershire. After theservice the Judge’s procession went back to Leicester Castle for the readingof the Letters Patent.

Sunday 8th November. Six Freemen led the Lady Mayoress’s procession fromDe Montfort Hall to the War Memorial in Victoria Park for the annualRemembrance Day service conducted by the Bishop of Leicester. After theservice The Lord Mayor and Lieutenant Colonel S. Brunt then walked to thesaluting dais in Peace walk where they took the salute of the March Past ofContingents, led by the Seaforth Highlanders. See group photograph insiderear cover of the Freemen and their ladies who attended the service.

Saturday 21st November. Over fifty members and friends of the Gildenjoyed a Fish and Chip supper in the community centre at Freemen’s Holt.After the delicious fish and chips supplied by a mobile van and, accompaniedby a plentiful supply of wine and soft drinks, our good friend Bob Gregory,Leicester City guide, gave us a very entertaining talk and slide show on thesubject of “Crime in Old Leicester”.

Wednesday 16th December. Forty eight Freemen, their families and friendsattended the annual Lord Mayor’s Carol Service at Leicester Cathedralstarting at 6pm, which was broadcast live on BBC Radio Leicester. TheCathedral choir led the congregation in a rousing rendition of the favouriteChristmas carols assisted in part by the Kibworth Brass Band. A delightfulevening enjoyed by all.

Friday 18th December. A party of exactly fifty Freemen and their childrenand grandchildren visited the Little Theatre in Leicester for the pantomime“Jack and the Beanstalk”. I know it’s easy to say it was the best pantomimewe’ve ever seen, but this one really was fantastic, with the excellent damereeling off joke after joke, ably supported by the rest of the cast. It was slickand almost professional, and this was the opening night as well. It was agreat evening much enjoyed by everyone.

Well done, Little Theatre! When can we book for next year’s?

Brian Mudford

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Report by Chairman of the Board - Paul RossI hope that you have all had an enjoyable Christmas and New Year. We havestarted the New Year with some very snowy and icy weather and I trust thatyou are all staying safe and keeping warm.

This will be my last chairman’s report to you. I have enjoyed serving aschairman and I would like to thank all the deputies for their time andexpertise that they give on a voluntary basis. The Holt is a place to be proudof and it is good that we are able to carry on the work and traditions ofprevious generations.

There have been major changes during 2009 including a ceremony that sawthe first hereditary women Freemen for the City of Leicester. May Icongratulate all those who took their oath to the Freedom during 2009 andalso those who plan to take up this honour in 2010.

There is plenty to look forward to this year including the garden party to beheld on Sunday 20th June, this is an enjoyable family day at Freeman’s Holt.If you are of pensionable age and struggling to manage then why not talk toLynda or Eileen to see if there are any ways that we may be able to help youto help yourself. Give them a call on 0116 2834017, sometimes we may beable to point you in the right direction or even help you to fill in forms.

We have many activities at the Holt ( you do not have to be a resident to joinin ), there are many things to take part in including card making, sewing, filmsand the occasional lunch. Please contact the office if you are interested.

Peter Staines has retired from the Board of Deputies and I would like to thankhim for his work on the Board and wish Peter and his wife Bernadette all thebest for the future.

If you would like to know more about the charity and the Board of Deputieswe would be pleased to see you at any of the Board meetings that are held inthe community centre at Freemen’s Holt at 7.30pm on the first Wednesday ofMarch, June, September and December. If you have been a Freemen for threeor more years and would be interested in serving on the Board of Deputiesplease contact the office on 0116 2834017 and talk to Lynda who will adviseyou of the process or email leicester.freemen@talktalkbusiness.net for moreinformation.

All that remains is to thank you for your support during the last year and towish you all the best for the future.

With Regards

Paul Ross

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Report on the FEW (Freemen of England and Wales) byMichael AyresSaturday 5th December. History was made this day in the Council Chamber atLeicester’s Town Hall, in the presence of the Lord Mayor of LeicesterCouncillor Roger Blackmore. The first fifteen daughters of Freemen ofLeicester became eligible to have the honour of the Freedom of Leicesterbestowed on them after taking their oath before the Lord Mayor, the TownClerk, the Master of the Gild and the Vice-Chairman of the Board of theLeicester Freemen’s Deputies.

Henry Hartopp’s register of the Freemen of Leicester 1196-1770 records thata number of women have received the Freedom of Leicester in the past, thelast one being Mary Kempston Wood on the 19th June 1770, apprentice toRobert Cloudsley of Leicester, Breeches Maker. There are no further recordsof any of the women after they had received their Freedom; it was bestowedon them to allow them to carry on their trade in Leicester. They had no rightfor their son or daughter to inherit the right of the Freedom.

Leicester City Council has informed us that they have received well over 100applications from Daughters of Freemen waiting to take their Freedom andthe list is increasing by the day.

While on the subject of the Daughters being eligible to become Freemen ofLeicester, there seems to be a number of facts that have been misinterpretedby some Freemen and the general public. Being the Leicester representativeof the Freemen of England and Wales, I now feel its time to correct any ofthese misconceptions.

A campaign was started by the Leicester Mercury stating that we were a maledominated organization. This is incorrect, as widows of Freemen have alwayshad the same rights as their late husbands. They have always had entitlementto benefits from the Freemen’s charity, the right to attend the LeicesterDeputies Board meetings and the right to vote on the Board’s or Freemen’saffairs when the occasion arises.

Since the Leicester Gild of Freemen was reformed in 1976, daughters ofFreemen have always been welcome to become associate members of theGild.

It should also be made clear that neither the Leicester Freemen’s Board ofDeputies or the Leicester Gild of Freemen have control over whether or notdaughters are made free, as the Freedom is given by Leicester City Councilalone.

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If you recall from my previous reports the Act to change the admission ofFreemen was first introduced in Parliament over five years ago and wasknown has the Beverly Bill. This Bill had a number of problems, after anumber of alterations to the bill it was reintroduced in Parliament as theFamily Succession Bill. The Bill was subsequently replaced by the LocalDemocracy, Economic Development and Construction Bill had its final readingin October 2009 and is now an Act of Parliament. Chapter 5 of the Act, LocalFreedom and Honorary Titles, allows for the daughters of freemen to receivethe same rights and privileges as sons in all respects irrespective of where orwhen they were born. Leicester City Council has now exercised that right toadmit daughters as freemen.

Furthermore, the Sex Discrimination Act 1975 and the Equal Opportunitiesand Human Rights Commission state that it is illegal to discriminate in anyway that provides disadvantage to women in provision of rights and services.

To conclude the report, Leicester City Council had no alternative but to admitdaughters to the Freedom of Leicester under the above Acts of Parliament.

Michael Ayres

Programme of Future Outings and Events“My life as a Tiller Girl” – Cheese & Wine SupperWednesday 17th March 2010 – Freemen’s Holt, 7.30pm

We’ve still got plenty of room for more Freemen and friends to join us at ourcheese & wine supper in March, when Margaret Hudson, a popular andexperienced speaker, will chat about her life as a Tiller girl dancer in the1950s. Her highly amusing talk includes anecdotes about her appearance at aRoyal Command performance at the London Palladium, the stars she’sappeared with, and the interesting activities that went on backstage as well asduring tours to South Africa and elsewhere abroad. She’ll also bring photos,scrap books and stage trivia.

After the talk, a substantial supper will be served, accompanied by wine andsoft drinks. The customary Easter raffle will end the evening’s entertainment.

Tickets are priced at £8.00 each and you are urged to make your bookingearly.

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Open MorningSunday 28th March 2010 – Freemen’s Holt, 10.00am to 12.00noonThis is a very relaxed coffee morning to give you the chance to meet otherFreemen, buy Gild products (like the new Christmas cards, for instance) andpay your annual subscription to the Gild. Tea and biscuits will also be served,and you might win one of the fabulous raffle prizes.

Common Hall MeetingThursday 8th April 2010 - Leicester Town Hall, 7.45pm for 8.00pmOur annual general meeting will be held in the Council Chamber of the TownHall and will be opened by the Lord Mayor, President of the Gild. This is youropportunity to have your say in the running of the Gild and even to putyourself forward for election to the Gild Court. As is common with mostorganisations, the governing body of the Gild, the Court, is not getting anyyounger, and new blood will be most welcome. Please come along and offeryour services.

Please note that there is a change of day this year, to Thursday,. This is due tothe unavailability of the Council Chamber on any Wednesday in April.

A tasty buffet, with wine and soft drinks, will be served afterwards.

St George’s Day ServiceFriday 23rd April 2010 – St Mary de Castro Church, 7.15pmAll members and friends are invited to the historic St Mary de Castro Churchin Leicester City centre for the annual St George’s Day service. The servicestarts at 7.30pm, but please be seated earlier, before the arrival of the CivicDignitaries. The Lord-Lieutenant Jennifer, Lady Gretton, The Lord Mayor andthe High Sheriff are normally present.

ShrewsburySaturday 8th May 2010 – Coach leaves Freemen’s Holt at 9.00amThe Freemen of Shrewsbury have invited us for an informal visit to theirhistoric medieval town which, as a Gild, we haven’t visited for about 15 years.The centre is packed with timber-framed buildings, narrow streets andalleyways, and over 600 listed buildings, including the famous Castle, nowhousing a museum, and Shrewsbury Abbey. There are reminders everywhereof Charles Darwin who was born there, and the River Severn meanders lazilythrough the centre. It’s similar in appearance to Chester.

On arrival we will be taken on a guided tour of the main sights beforeenjoying a sit-down meal in an ancient pub. We’ll then have a couple of hours

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of free time to further explore before starting our return journey, with arrivalback in Leicester about 7.15pm.

The cost will be £18.00 per adult/child or £20.00 for non-Gild members, andwill include the cost of the guide and food/refreshments. Please send in theenclosed booking form to Roger Allen.

Stratford upon Avon, with optional visit to Stratford racesSunday 30th May 2010 – Coach leaves Freemen’s Holt at 9.00amThe second coach outing of the Gild’s year will be to nearby Stratford uponAvon, famous for William Shakespeare, the picturesque River Avon and much,much more, including some unusual shopping opportunities in its nooks andcrannies.

We will arrive about 10.30am, to be met by a blue-badge guide who willcome on board the coach and take us round the “must-sees” for about anhour and a half. Then there are two options – either stay in the centre doingyour own thing (river cruise, shops, museums, etc) or come to the races foran afternoon of light-hearted fun where you might back a winner or two.

The cost for the day’s outing will be £11.00 for adults and seniors, £10 forchildren (15 or under), and £13.00 for non-Gild members. The races will costan additional £7.50 for adults and seniors (children 15 or under are free).

New MembersWe are pleased to welcome Susan Taylor (Member), David Taylor (AssociateMember), and Celia Butters (Member), who have recently joined the Gild.

Annual subscriptionsYes, it’s that time of the year again. For the 13th consecutive year there willbe no increase in the subscription rates for the coming year. Fees are £7.50for Members and £4.50 for Associate Members, and are due for payment on1st April 2010.

Please help the administration of the Gild by paying your subscriptionpromptly on the form enclosed in this Newsletter. If you would prefer to payby standing order then a form is also enclosed – payment by this methodmeans you don’t have to pay by cheque, the fee will just be taken out of yourbank account each year on the due date (you can stop it at any time).

The Court of the Gild respectively asks you to pay on time, on 1st April, please.

Roger Allen

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Contributions to the Gildhall News

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Down in the Evington valley 1940It is strange how memories of things which occurred in one’s childhood arestill so vivid and easy to remember in one’s dotage. What happened last weekor even yesterday is much more difficult to retrieve than what happened in1940. Of course at that time the second world war was gathering speed and Iam sure our parents were full of apprehension for their children’s and theirown safety.

As an 11 year old in class at the Coleman Road School in Leicester and livingin the Evington Valley District life was generally going on as usual althoughcarrying a cardboard box on a piece of string slung over your shouldercontaining a rubber smelling gas mask was a bit of an inconvenience. The 1/2mile walk to school each morning was different only in that mum and dad hadwarned me of what those nasty Germans might do and if it happened whatevasive action I should take, like dive under a bush, keep low, and put myhands over my ears. However, the Germans were prone to doing theirbombing at night time and so again, generally, life carried on as usual untilabout 4-o-clock when, as it was getting dark, we had to run home andprepare to dive into our Anderson shelter.

Now this shelter was a family installed affair. First we had to dig up Dad’sbeetroot and carrots to make room for it in the back garden. Then we hadgreat fun in digging a large rectangular hole through the clay subsoil some 4feet deep. “The deeper the better” said Dad. The corrugated iron sides andend pieces were then inserted and bolted together and the whole outsidebackfilled and covered with soil. Two or three small slabs formed the stepsdown into the void and Dad thoughtfully fitted up a couple of slatted seats,one on either side. Slightly late the corporation van turned up and the floorwas concreted.

From memory, early November 1940 wasone of the first skirmishes we had where wequickly dived into the Anderson Shelter andlay snuggled up against each other in thecold, damp atmosphere. It was drizzlingoutside and we were aware that the non-existent drainage system was going to be a

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source of trouble. Odd items placed under our slatted seats were quickly halfsubmerged in water.

Our house was in Gedding Road, just opposite to the Blind Homes and HighExplosive bombs fell all around. One lot fell on some houses in GwendolenRoad and others around the Spinney Hill Park area. All of our windows werecriss-crossed with sticky tape to prevent them shattering in the blast. Oneevening, while still using the Anderson shelter, an incendiary bomb fell on alovely wooden summer house situated in the gardens behind the blindhomes. It was like a huge beacon and although we popped out quickly tohave a “gander” we were quickly ordered inside again as Dad pointed out theGerries would use it as a marker and drop more bombs in the area.

Within a few nights it was realised that theAnderson, apart from use as a quickemergency shelter, was not going to sufficeand we were all relieved when Dad located adeep cellar shelter underneath the DunlopRubber Co. factory just 50 yards away.However that didn’t last as, when we heardthere was a big underground chemical tanknot 30 yards away, we vacated that shelter,tried briefly another shelter under atransformer company further down the road,and finally ended up in a big shelterunderneath Mellor Bromley’s Factory on theSt. Saviours Road. From then onwards mynightly routine was to run home from school,snatch a quick cup of tea, pick up blanketsand eiderdowns (Duvets were not yet

invented) and dash to the cellar shelter just as the air raid sirens sounded.

I must say we had quite a lot of fun with these overnight stays with music hallacts and singing and usually ended up going home at about 6 am for abreakfast, a wash, and off once again to school to tell everyone of ourovernight experiences. Like one evening when we were all in our M.B.shelter. Dad was leaning against the half open steel door having a fag, whenthere was an almighty explosion. Dad threw himself to the floor and then,quickly stood up shouting “Don’t panic, don’t panic” in very best Dad’s Armyfashion. After the smoke and dust settled it was reported that a Land Minehad dropped on the adjacent Steels and Busks factory with another onedropping on the Victoria Park. This was the night of the 20th November.

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After a while the raids subsided somewhat and my dad used to take me withhim on fire-watching duty at a firm where he worked just off theHumberstone Road. Dad was a toolmaker and this company had beenrelocated from London to Leicester to make munitions. The company wascalled Mayfair Shades Limited so you can tell what they originally made. Dadwas exempted from military duties (He was just in at the top end of the agebracket), because, as a skilled engineer, he was required at home. We used toget there at about 6pm, prepare our beds, make a cup of tea and then, if thesirens had not sounded, dad would coach me on setting up and working asmall lathe. All good practice for the future.

I took my 11 plus exams in 1941 and despite the turmoil passed and, inSeptember 1942, moved on to the Gateway boys school. Although the blitzand general dangers from bombing were mainly over the first couple of yearsup to the end of the war in Europe still presented problems. Transport toschool, rationing, shortage of materials etc. all made life for my parentsdifficult and I suppose for me as well although I knew no different. The onlything I do now realise and I still realise is the hardship, danger, and endeavourthat our servicemen and women experienced and put in to ensure out futureand survival as a nation.

Norman Pratt

The “Common Man” continued by Maurice Hill

Living at 4&5 D Road

I lived at 4&5 D Road on Freemen’s Common in Leicester from 1938 until 1944.The house was essentially a two storey building with two rooms downstairs,one room always referred to as the living room and the other the front roomwhich was used only on very rare special occasions. Upstairs were two bedrooms.Attached to one end of the house was a single storey kitchen linked to the houseproper via a covered passage way with stairs to the bedrooms leading off and adoor into the living room.

I know nothing about the origins of the house but considering the kitchen inisolation it could well have previously been a summerhouse to which the rest ofthe property had been built onto, because the basic layout of the kitchen wasthe same as the other summerhouses. Like the majority of the houses on the

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Common there were nofacilities, i.e. no gas, mainsrunning water or electricity.However my memories ofliving there are happy onesand in truth I cannotremember ever feelingdeprived of anything.

All rooms had a fireplace,including the bedroomsalthough we never lit firesupstairs. In the kitchen wasa black leaded range thatwas always kept lit and wasused for cooking all mealsand making hot drinks,similar to the photograph onthe left. In the winter the firein the living room was alsokept lit and this made theroom very cosy and snug.

For lighting we used paraffin lamps fitted with a mantle and a glass chimneythat had to be cleaned regularly to remove the soot from the glass. These lampsgave a light quite comparable with an electric light and also the rooms we hadwere not overly big. The lamps were supplemented by candles and night lights(now called tea lights). Paraffin and replacement mantles for the lamps wereobtained from Bettison’s hardware shop down the Saffron Lane. The mantleswhen bought had a protective coating on to give them strength. When the newmantle was fitted in the lamp a lighted match was applied to it which instantlyburned off the coating. The mantle was now ready for use but was extremelyfragile, and in use would start to crumble resulting in a gradual decrease of lightoutput and increase of soot deposited on the glass.

Rain water from the roof was harvested and collected in a large tank in thebackyard and via a cast iron pump on the stone kitchen sink was used for washingboth personal and laundry. Drinking water came from a pump outside the kitchendoor from our own well which would occasionally run dry and water then hadto be fetched from the pump on F Road .

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In the kitchen was a brick copper and on Monday mornings it was filled withwater and a fire lit under it and when it washot enough Mum did the week’s washing.Using rain water which is very soft resultingin a super lather which Mum claimed she wasnever able to obtain again when we latermoved into houses with mains tap water. Allwaste or grey water was drained into a cesspit which periodically the council came toempty.

We had an outside toilet which was basicallya wooden box that had the necessary hole inthe top and opened at the front. In the boxwas a galvanised tub. This type of toilet forobvious reasons was often referred to as athunder box. The tub was emptied each weekby the council who arrived with a horsedrawn two wheel tank in which was put thecontent of the tub.

The above photograph of the outside toilet at 3&4 B Road, with the front of thebox missing is a similar toilet to that we enjoyed (?) at D Road. We also had thecoal house next to the toilet.

In the time that we were living at D Road very few people, no matter wherethey lived possessed a refrigerator, and relied upon either a “meat safe” or thethrall, which was a concrete slab in the pantry, to keep food and things like milkfresh. We had a “meat safe” which was basically a small cupboard with the sidesand door made from sheets of perforated zinc sheeting to allow the throughpassage of air and keep out flies and any other insects. This was kept in thecovered passage way that was the coolest part of the house.

For entertainment we had the radio which was battery powered using anaccumulator. Approximately once a week a spare accumulator would be takento Mr. Reader’s bicycle shop at the corner of Walnut Street and Aylestone Roadfor recharging, this cost 6d (2.5p) each time.

As well as 4&5 B Road we also had plot 6 which meant we had a total of some700 square yards of garden with fruit trees and a number of current bushes. Mydad grew a great variety of vegetables and as previously mentioned with ourchickens and rabbits we were almost totally self sufficient.

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Unfortunately I have not got any photographs of 4&5 D Road, but hopefully thedrawing below that I’ve produced from memory will give some idea of what thehouse looked like. Under the umbrella of artists licence I have not shown theoutbuildings, toilet and greenhouse, so please forgive me.

Artist’s (?) impression of 4&5 D Road

Maurice Hill

The Alcester Court LeetFor our forth article on other local Freemen’s associations, which likeLeicester Gild are members of the Freemen of England & Wales (FEW)Association, we shall look at the Alcester Court Leet.

What is a Court Leet?

In medieval times, before Town Councils, Freemen often administered theirtowns by a jury of Freemen burgesses led by a Mayor or Bailiff. In Coventry,this ‘Court Leet’ was in operation by at least 1421 and was gradually

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superseded by the Corporation in the 17th century. The Court Leet dealt withadministrative matters, disputes, and public health concerns. These dutiesalso included approval of craft guild rules and issue of ordinances like banningthatched roofs (due to fire risk) in 1474. Today there are still some 30 CourtLeets in operation in England and Wales, and whilst the historical duty ofdealing with petty criminal matters has long since been transferred to thejustices of the peace, the Court Leets act as advisory bodies calling to theattention of elected representatives anything considered amiss, or for thebetter governance of the town.

Origins of Alcester

Alcester is a market town situated at the junction of the Rivers Alne andArrow, some 16 miles south west of Stratford. It has a Roman history, and theearlier name of Alnecestre signifies ‘the camp on the Alne’, where a fortsafeguards the ‘salt road’ from Droitwich. In 1140 a Benedictine Monasterynamed the ‘Church of Our Lady of the Isle’ was founded by Ralph Boteler ofOversley, but like Coventry’s Priory was suppressed and dismantled by HenryVIII, and just a few traces of a moat and foundations survive today in PrioryClose. Industries have included needle making, furniture manufacture, flourmills, and an Elizabethan malt house. Its medieval street pattern is stillevident today. It had at least 7 coaching inns supporting the London toBirmingham stagecoach route between 1750-1850 and the advent of therailways.

Origins of Alcester Court Leet

The Court Leet was established by the Lord of the Manor to assist him in theadministration of his estate and the manor of Alcester in the 13th century, andwas the court of minor criminal law, as well as holding a weekly market wherethe quality of produce was monitored.

Alcester Court Leet today

The current Lord of the Manor is the most Honourable Henry Seymour,Marquess of Hertford, whose home is the nearby Ragley Hall. As he hasmobility problems, unfortunately he is not always able to attend meetings.The Steward of the Manor acts on his behalf, and chairs the annual meetingwhere Officers are elected and installed. The two principal Officers are theHigh and Low Bailiffs. Other traditional Officers include: Town Crier & Beadle;Constable; Marshall; Ale Tasters; Bread Weighers; Fish & Flesh Tasters;Affearors; Surveyor of Highways; Brooklooker; Hayward; and Searcher &Sealer of Leather. Other members of the Court Leet are those persons who

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have formally sworn the Ancient Oath of Frankpledge, and paid theFrankpledge ‘penny’, but only those residing in Alcester are eligible votingmembers of the jury. Elected Officers wear the traditional ceremonial robes oftheir Office at all formal court occasions.

Alcester Court Leet Activities today

The Court Leet organises events such as : Charity Street Market; The Paradeon Remembrance Day ; Pancake Day Races; Town Crier’s competition; Easterbonnet parade; High Bailiff’s dinner; and the Alcester Assizes – where BreadWeighing, Fish & Flesh tasting, Searching & Sealing of Leather are all enacted.Also there is a church service, Mop Fair, and several rounds of Ale Tasting.This full programme of events helps raise funds to allow several thousandpounds to be distributed to local charities each year.

Alcester Town Hall

This venue for Court Leet events has an interesting history. The lowerCotswold stone storey was built in 1618 during the reign of Charles I for thethen Lord of the Manor. Lord Brooke-Fulke Greville of Warwick Castle.Originally an open market hall for traders, in 1641 the hammer beamed roofupper storey was erected. The ground floor was enclosed in Victorian timesand has been used as town gaol, fire station, and court room. The townbought the Hall from the Lord of the Manor in 1919 to commemorate thefallen of the 1st World War.

The town is well worth a visit, and a free Alcester Heritage Trail leaflet isavailable from the town hall with street plan and descriptions of historicbuildings.

Derek Austin

Call to an Electronics company Customer servicesdepartment:Caller: “Can you give me the telephone number for Jack?”

Operator: “I’m sorry, sir, I don’t understand who you are talking about”.

Caller: “On page 1, section 5, of the user guide it clearly states that I need tounplug the fax machine from the AC wall socket and telephone Jackbefore cleaning. Now, can you give me the number for Jack?”

Operator: “I think that mean the telephone point on the wall, sir”.

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A few Senior Male Moments

An elderly gentleman had serious hearing problems for a number ofyears. He went to the doctor and the doctor was able to have himfitted for a set of hearing aids that allowed the gentleman to hear 100%. Theelderly gentleman went back in a month to the doctor and the doctor said,‘Your hearing is perfect.. Your family must be really pleased that you can hearagain.’The gentleman replied, ‘Oh, I haven’t told my family yet. I just sit around andlisten to the conversations. I’ve changed my will three times!’

Two elderly gentlemen from a retirement centre were sitting on a benchunder a tree when one turns to the other and says: ‘Slim, I’m 83 years oldnow and I’m just full of aches and pains. I know you’re about my age. How doyou feel?’Slim says, ‘I feel just like a newborn baby.’’Really!? Like a newborn baby!?’’Yep. No hair, no teeth, and I think I just wet my pants.’

A senior citizen said to his eighty-year old buddy: ’So I hear you’re gettingmarried?’’Yep!’’Do I know her?’’Nope!’’This woman, is she good looking?’’Not really.’’Is she a good cook?’’Naw, she can’t cook too well.’’Does she have lots of money?’’Nope! Poor as a church mouse.’’Why in the world do you want to marry her then?’’Because she can still drive!’

Hospital regulations require a wheel chair for patients being discharged.However, while working as a student nurse, I found one elderly gentlemanalready dressed and sitting on the bed with a suitcase at his feet, who insistedhe didn’t need my help to leave the hospital. After a chat about rules beingrules, he reluctantly let me wheel him to the elevator. On the way down Iasked him if his wife was meeting him.’I don’t know,’ he said. ‘She’s still upstairs in the bathroom changing out ofher hospital gown.’

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A Few Political Quotes(Its amazing how true they still are today)

I contend that for a nation to try to tax itself into prosperity is like a manstanding in a bucket and trying to lift himself up by the handle .— WinstonChurchill.

A government which robs Peter to pay Paul can always depend on thesupport of Paul.— George Bernard Shaw.

Foreign aid might be defined as a transfer of money from poor people in richcountries to rich people in poor countries.— Douglas Casey, GeorgetownUniversity.

Giving money and power to government is like giving whiskey and car keys toteenage boys.— P.J. O’Rourke, Civil Libertarian.

Government is the great fiction, through which everybody endeavors to liveat the expense of everybody else.— Frederic Bastiat, French Economist(1801-1850).

Government’s view of the economy could be summed up in a few shortphrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stopsmoving, subsidize it.— Ronald Reagan (1986).

I don’t make jokes. I just watch the government and report the facts.— WillRogers.

In general, the art of government consists of taking as much money aspossible from one party of the citizens to give to the other.— Voltaire (1764).

Just because you do not take an interest in politics doesn’t mean politicswon’t take an interest in you!— Pericles (430 B.C.).

The inherent vice of capitalism is the unequal sharing of the blessings. Theinherent blessing of socialism is the equal sharing of misery.— WinstonChurchill.

The only difference between a tax man and a taxidermist is that thetaxidermist leaves the skin. — Mark Twain

A government big enough to give you everything you want, is strong enoughto take everything you have.— Thomas Jefferson

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

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

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

Leicester Freemen web site: www.leicester-freemen.com

Copy for the next issue should reach the editorby

Friday 16th April 2010

For your News and Views write to :

Brian Mudford11 Huntsman CloseMarkfieldLeicestershireLE67 9XE

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

23

Group photograph of the Freemen and their ladies who attended theRemembrance Sunday service at Victoria Park, Leicester

Nicola Branson, one of the new lady Freemen after the swearing in ceremony on5th December 2009 standing with the Lord Mayor and the Master of the Gild of

Freemen. Her father Michael Ayres is on the far left with Mrs Jean Ayres, and herhusband Mr Trevor Branson is on the right.

Photograph by Josie Tolton

Standing in the photograph are the seventeen new Leicester Freem

en after the Swearing in cerem

ony on 5th Decem

ber 2009. Seatedfrom

left to right are The Lady Mayoress, M

rs. Hilary Blackm

ore, Cllr. M

rs. Manjula Sood M

BE, John Tolton, Honorary Treasurer of

the Board of Deputies, W

ayne Manship, Vice C

hairman of the Board of D

eputies, The Lord Mayor, C

llr. Roger Blackmore,

The Master of the G

ild of Freemen, Brian M

udford, Tony Chettle W

arden of the Gild C

ourt, and Cllr. M

ary Draycott M

BE.