Common Hall Notice

All Freemen are warmly invited to attend the forthcoming Common Hall, to be held in the Council Chamber at the Town Hall on Monday 14 October.  The chamber will be open from 6.30 and proceedings will commence at 7pm, followed by wine and cheese to add a social element to the proceedings.

This will be the first Common Hall to be held since May 2008. That was convened primarily to discuss the proposal to amend the Order for Admission so as to admit daughters and daughters-in-law as well as sons and sons-in-law. Previous Common Halls have also been convened with a particular topic to discuss. On this occasion there is no central topic to discuss (although items for inclusion will be very welcome), but it is right and proper that all Freemen should have a voice in the running of their affairs. And after so long the Freemen must have the opportunity to appoint their Committee.

The agenda reads as follows:

• Secretary’s Report

• Treasurer’s Report

• Election of General Committee

• Items for Discussion

• Any other Business

Freemen are most welcome to suggest other items for discussion, which can be submitted to the Honorary Secretary up to 24 hours beforehand; her contact details are inside the front cover. Proposals made to date include the admission of spouses and permitting women Freemen to re-style themselves as Freewomen. It must be remembered that any amendments to the Order would require the consent of the Privy Council.