Twenty-seven international postgraduate students from Goodenough College in Bloomsbury have been awarded the Freedom of the in a ceremony at the Lord Mayor’s official residence.
The scholars, drawn from a wide range of countries across the globe, were hosted by Lord Mayor Professor Michael Mainelli who, along with the City Corporation’s Policy Chairman, Chris Hayward, are the scholars’ nominators for the Freedom.
The awards have been given as part of the Lord Mayor’s ‘Connect to Prosper’ programme, which focuses on the City’s expertise in areas including finance, law, art, and engineering, and brings together leading experts from diverse backgrounds to work on critical global challenges, such as AI and climate change.
The scholars prepared for the award through a series of private visits and tours of several City institutions, including the Bank of England, St. Paul’s Cathedral, Guildhall and on the City’s fringes, Tower Bridge and London Metropolitan Archives, concluding with the submission of essays on their impressions of the City.
Lord Mayor of the , Professor Michael Mainelli, said:
“It has been my absolute pleasure to recognise the exceptional talents of these young people by awarding them the Freedom of the , as part of their graduation ceremony, which makes it a particularly memorable day.
“By singling out and championing these scholars, we are continuing our efforts to forge much valued and enduring connections between the four corners of the globe and London, which acts as the world’s coffee house.”
Policy Chairman at the Corporation, Chris Hayward, said:
“It is always gratifying to celebrate young people’s achievements, either, as they are about to embark on their careers or a few years in and starting to reap the rewards of their hard work.
“As they take away their own happy memories of today’s ceremony, I warmly congratulate each and every one of the scholars and wish them much success and fulfilment in their future careers.”
Director of Goodenough College, the Hon Alice Walpole OBE, said:
“We feel enormously privileged to be the first group of scholars to participate in this innovative educational programme.
“Our College members are tomorrow’s leaders and opinion-formers in their own countries and I am proud and delighted that they take home with them a substantial understanding of, interest in, and affection for, the .”
One of the ’s ancient traditions, the Freedom is believed to have begun in 1237 and enabled recipients to carry out their trade.
As well as being nominated for, or applying for, the Freedom, it is also offered by the Corporation to individuals as a way of paying tribute to their outstanding contribution to London or public life, or to celebrate a very significant achievement.
Recent high-profile recipients include former captain of the England rugby union team, Sir William (Bill) Beaumont; theatre entrepreneurs, Dame Rosemary Squire and Sir Howard Panter; and former Managing Director and Chief Privacy Officer at the London Stock Exchange, Vivienne Artz.
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