Mark Hunter to receive Freedom of the City of London
Mark Hunter MBE, who won gold in the Lightweight Double at the Beijing Olympics, will receive the Freedom of the City of London at the Guildhall on Thursday 25 June.
Mark, who is a member of the Worshipful Company of Watermen and Lightermen, was nominated for his Freedom by Ian Luder, Lord Mayor of the City of London, and William Fraser, Chief Commoner of the City of London Corporation.
During the ceremony Mark will be shown items from the City of London’s archives, including the London Schools Rowing Club Rules, which date from 1876, and the Official Report of the British Olympic Association from 1952.
"As a Londoner born and bred, it’s a great privilege to be awarded the Freedom of the City of London and in particular, to have been put forward for the honour by the Lord Mayor himself. Whether or not it’ll allow me to take time off from training to drive sheep over London Bridge or walk around the City with a drawn sword, I’m looking forward to my special day at the Guildhall," says Mark.
Previous Olympic medal winners to receive the Freedom of the City of London include five times Gold Medal winner, Sir Steve Redgrave; Richard Leman, who was a member of the GB Hockey XI which won Gold in Seoul in 1988; and Marjorie Jackson-Nelson MBE, Governor of South Australia, who – as ‘The Lithgow Flash’ – won Double Sprint Gold (100m and 200m) for Australia in Helsinki in 1952.
