A Brief History
of The City of London Freemen Association of Sussex
Charles H. Burge, a member of the Court of Assistants of the Worshipful Company of Basket Makers and a resident of Ferring, Sussex had the idea of forming an association for Freemen of the City of London residing in Sussex.
Two impromptu meetings of ten Freemen were convened on 23 rd February 1979 and 24 th April 1979 under the working name of The Sussex Group of Freemen of the City of London. They resulted in an inaugural meeting of the Group being held on 13 th March 1980 and chaired by Charles Burge.
63 invitations had been sent to known Freemen in Sussex and 35 Founder subscriptions of £6.00 were received prior to the meeting. A further 12 subscriptions were taken at the meeting, making a total of 47 Founder Members. Their names are inscribed at the front of the Minute Book, together with a suitable heading and emblem.
It was agreed the purpose of the Group would be mainly social, enabling the members to maintain links with London by meeting together informally three or four times a year. Sadly, Charles Burge died following that meeting but his idea was carried forward by the other Founder Members.
A meeting of Founders was held on 27 th July 1981 at which the acting Chairman, Harold Piggott, read a letter from the Lord Mayor of London's office and signed by the Town Clerk, S. J. Clayton, LLB, accepting the formation of the group. It was agreed that the name be The City of London Freemen Association of Sussex and that the Association’s motto would be Omnis Honorate, the New English bible translation being "Give Due Honour to Everyone" or "Honour All Men".
The Association emblem was adopted to be the Cross of St. George with the Sword of St. Paul placed in chief, being representative of the City, upon an azure field charged with six martlets (Arundel), being representative of the Kingdom of South Saxons. The shield is surmounted by the Saxon Crown in it’s by the pure and antient form.
The Rules and draft By-laws were presented and adopted, and the following officers elected:
- Chairman
- H.E.Piggott
- Deputy Chairman
- H.C.Burge (son of the Founder)
- Almoner
- R.C.Wilton
- Treasurer
- T.Kent
- Clerk
- J.H.L.Collinson
- Asst Secretary
- J.Mays
It was agreed that they would serve for two years and thereafter the offices be elected annually at the A.G.M. It was further decided that an Inaugural Annual Dinner would be held at the Grand Hotel, Brighton in November 1981.
At the time of writing the Association has 66 members, enjoying garden parties, luncheons, visits to places of interest and, as the highlight of the year, the Annual Dinner. The business is managed through the Executive and Social committees, culminating in the AGM held in late Autumn.