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Annual Dinner 2017

Annual Dinner 2017

6th November 2017

The dinner was extremely successful with 84 guests enjoying dinner in the wonderful setting of the Town Hall. Our Guests this year included, members of Berwick, York and Trinity House Guilds, the President of the Freemen of England and Wales (FEW) and the Master of York Guild.

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Obituary - Robert Ainsley Elliott

Obituary - Robert Ainsley Elliott

21st August 2017

Bob was born in Durham just before the outbreak of the war, to a family who owned a well established building firm, with whom he served his apprenticeship. He became a meticulous carpenter.

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Craftsmen Make Up For Lost Time

Craftsmen Make Up For Lost Time

7th August 2017

Two time-served Durham craftsmen have been sworn in as freemen of the city – more than 100 years after they first became eligible to join.

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 Obituary - Jim Marsden

Obituary - Jim Marsden

6th July 2017

Born in Whinney Hill, Jim moved to Misletoe Street and attended St Margaret’s School then the Durham Johnston School. He spent much of his youth pursuing country pastimes around the family’s brickyard ponds at Tursdale, and in WW2 at age 16 he volunteered for the Royal Observer Corps. Called up in 1945 he served in the UK and Germany as an ordnance disposal expert with the Royal Engineers, then as a Battery Surveyor with the Royal Artillery.​

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Family of Freemen Claim Unique Double

Family of Freemen Claim Unique Double

8th May 2017

A-Level student Jack Elliott became one of the youngest freemen in Britain when he was sworn-in at a ceremony in Durham’s Guildhall ( May 8th). But his notable achievement was tempered by the knowledge that his sister Beth is still believed to claim the honour of being the country’s youngest – beating him to the title by just 16 days.

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Obituary - Haydon Watson

Obituary - Haydon Watson

24th April 2017

Haydon was admitted to the Plumbers’ Company on 8 May 2006 and became a staunch supporter of the Durham City Freemen, regularly attending Guild Days, Members meetings and the Annual Dinner. His engaging personality was evident at these events and he formed many lasting friendships among the members.

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