'Freedom of the city'. Erm,what's the point ??

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• Welsh-lad Posts: 51,925

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  02/07/14 - 19:10 #2

  Scraggy Taters wrote: »

  Robbie Williams has been granted 'the freedom of Stoke-on-Trent'.
  
  But why ? I don't see the point of such an 'accolade', especially as Stoke isn't that great a place to be given 'freedom'.
  
  To be given the 'freedom of a city' should be just that, literally.
  For example, not having to pay to go to the leisure centre, the cinema/theatre.. even the local snooker club. Free car parking & bus travel at least !
  Any more ideas for the ultimate 'freedom' of where you live ?

  
  Ah, unfettered access to the snooker club. The pinnacle of honour

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• Jennifer Jayne Posts: 9,022

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  02/07/14 - 19:55 #3

  I can just see Robblie Williams on the bus next to the window squeezed in with the one person on the bus no one ever wants to sit by that stinks off BO and pee and comes across quite weird. - Though I guess that is actually most people in Stoke-on-Trent.

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• CLL Dodge Posts: 115,850

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  02/07/14 - 19:56 #4

  Gosh, will Samanda get it next?

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• Jennifer Jayne Posts: 9,022

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  02/07/14 - 19:59 #5

  CLL Dodge wrote: »

  Gosh, will Samanda get it next?

  
  Who? Has Samamtha Womack been sleeping with newts (salamandas)?

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• Nilrem Posts: 6,940

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  02/07/14 - 21:01 #6

  Scraggy Taters wrote: »

  Robbie Williams has been granted 'the freedom of Stoke-on-Trent'.
  
  But why ? I don't see the point of such an 'accolade', especially as Stoke isn't that great a place to be given 'freedom'.
  
  To be given the 'freedom of a city' should be just that, literally.
  For example, not having to pay to go to the leisure centre, the cinema/theatre.. even the local snooker club. Free car parking & bus travel at least !
  Any more ideas for the ultimate 'freedom' of where you live ?

  
  It's a historic honour, going back a few hundred years it, from memory, gave you certain rights of passage for both yourself, and livestock etc as an example.
  I think it's a bit like being given the "key to the city" which probably had roots in allowing you passage when the gates/fortifications might normally be shut (you were recognised as being able to be trusted not to make off with the mayors prize horse etc;))..
  
  It's a bit like being given an OBE or CBE doesn't really confer you with any powers (other than the ability to add some letters after your name), but it recognises your achievements.

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• DangerBrother Posts: 1,623

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  02/07/14 - 21:48 #7

  Just buy a one day travelcard, and you too can get that feeling.
  
  (Until 04.29 the following morning)

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• grumpyscot Posts: 11,354

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  03/07/14 - 12:44 #8

  Sean Connery got the Freedom of Edinburgh - why, when he lives abroad and rarely visits........ (and doesn't pay income tax to the UK either)

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• DangerBrother Posts: 1,623

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  03/07/14 - 13:04 #9

  grumpyscot wrote: »

  Sean Connery got the Freedom of Edinburgh - why, when he lives abroad and rarely visits........ (and doesn't pay income tax to the UK either)

  
  They seem very proud that he was a milkman up there.
  
  Not a patch on Pat Mustard

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• 2-Pot Screamer Posts: 34,238

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  03/07/14 - 13:13 #10

  DangerBrother wrote: »

  They seem very proud that he was a milkman up there.
  
  Not a patch on Pat Mustard

  Pat Mustard had the freedom of Craggy Island, and took every advantage of it ;-)

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