Sir Chris and Lady Sarra attended their joint ceremony at the Lord Mayor’s official residence, The Mansion House, this evening.
They were nominated for the Freedom by Lord Mayor of London, Alastair King, and the Chair of the Corporation’s Epping Forest and Commons Committee, Caroline Haines.
Sir Chris Hoy MBE is one of Great Britain’s most successful Olympic athletes, with six gold medals and one silver. Following his historic hat-trick of gold medals at the Beijing Olympics, Chris was voted 2008 BBC Sports Personality of the Year and was awarded a knighthood in the 2009 New Year Honours list. A motorsport enthusiast, in June 2016, Chris finished the world’s most demanding motorsport endurance race, the Le Mans 24 Hours, on his debut.
Sir Chris retired from competitive cycling in 2013 to become involved in sports promotion and broadcast work, notably joining the BBC’s team covering the 2016 Rio, 2020 Tokyo and 2024 Paris Olympics, the 2014 and 2018 Commonwealth Games, the 2018 European Championships, and the Tour de France.
He revealed in October 2024 that he had been diagnosed the year before with stage 4 (terminal) prostate cancer. Actively campaigning to raise awareness of prostate health, Sir Chris’ latest book, ‘All That Matters’, has been praised for how he describes the daily challenges of living with cancer. Sir Chris has also launched a new fundraising event ‘Tour de 4’ which will take place this September, raising funds for cancer charities throughout the UK and helping change the perception of living with stage 4 cancer.
Sarra Hoy, a solicitor from Edinburgh, qualified in both Scots and English law before
moving to Manchester with Chris. As a litigation lawyer for over 12 years, she developed a keen interest in supporting others. She trained as a Samaritans listening volunteer, going on to become a Deputy Director of her local Samaritans’ branch where she has volunteered for 10 years.
Chris & Sarra’s first baby, Callum, was born very prematurely and required life-saving care in a neonatal unit for two months before he was able to come home. Now the Ambassador for Bliss, the UK’s largest neonatal charity, Sarra works with parents and medical professionals to help achieve Bliss’s objective: ‘that all babies born premature or sick have the best chance of survival and fulfil their potential.’
Speaking after the Freedom ceremony, Sir Chris Hoy said:
“London will always have a very special place in my heart; being the flag bearer at the 2012 Olympic Games is an experience that will stay with me forever.
“Every Olympics is special, but nothing quite beats a home Games, and watching the city come together and creating memories in front of such amazing support at what would be my last is something I will never forget.
“It is a great honour to receive the Freedom of the City; thank you.”
Speaking after the Freedom ceremony, Lady Sarra Hoy said:
“I’m deeply touched and honoured to have my charity work recognised in this way by the .
“I feel very privileged that Chris and I were awarded Freedom of the City at the same time. Watching him compete at London 2012 in front of a home crowd that included our family and friends was so momentous, London will always remain a precious place for both of us.”
Lord Mayor of London, Alastair King, said:
“Chris and Sarra are tremendously inspirational figures – Chris, as one of our most highly decorated and popular Olympic sports ambassadors, and Sarra, as a talented lawyer with dual qualifications in Scottish and English law, who has committed herself to campaigning for improved healthcare for children.
“Both of them must be commended for speaking so openly about living with cancer and multiple sclerosis, and it has been my privilege to support their Freedom nominations.”
Chair of the City Corporation’s Epping Forest and Commons Committee, Caroline Haines, said:
“Chris and Sarra are facing immense personal challenges, and we deeply admire their commitment to raising awareness and supporting vital causes.
“They are equally deserving of this honour – Sarra for her tireless work to improve neonatal outcomes and champion families with premature babies, and Chris for his extraordinary sporting legacy and work to raise awareness of prostate cancer.
“Together, they exemplify courage, compassion, and public service, and we are proud to recognise them with the Freedom of the City.”
Earlier this year, His Majesty King Charles III and Sir Chris launched the RCS Commonwealth Games baton relay, which is involving students attending the Corporation-sponsored family of schools.
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 multi-award-winning choreographer and director, Sir Matthew Bourne; Olympic and Commonwealth Games Gold- and Silver-medal winning athlete, Lady Mary Peters; and comedian, actor, and writer, Sir Lenny Henry.
ENDS
Notes for Editors
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Andrew Buckingham, Media Officer (Arts, Culture, Heritage, Licensing), Corporation / 07795 333060 / [email protected]
About the Corporation:
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