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From: 163 Spring 2026
Author: Peter Smith
It’s great to be in Spring again, with last Autumn and the last Journal seeming a long time ago now.
Sadly, the annual Sheriff’s Round Up on Port Meadow did not happen, despite a lot of prompting from me. A sign perhaps of not having a Ranger in post yet, after the departure in late 2024 of the excellent Julian Cooper. Discussions about it’s future format will happen during 2026.
There was an unveiling by the Lord Mayor of two refurbished Oxs & Bucks Light Infantry memorial plaques on 4th November in the Town Hall. These impressive wooden plaques used to be hung in the former Slade Barracks, and highlight many important battles our local army regiment has participated in. I attended as a guest to represent the Freemen as I did for an Armistice Service there on 11th November.
I attended my first Remembrance Sunday procession and wreath laying in St Giles Oxford on 9th November. Mandy Keen, daughter of ex-committee member Bryan Keen, and I represented the Freemen. We were lucky with the weather. November also saw me being interviewed for an OX magazine article on the Freemen. Hopefully some of you saw that when it was published in January.
The annual meal was well attended in December, returning to the Vincents Club. We were privileged to have Marcus Watney of the City of London Freemen and also a Liveryman of the Mercers Company as a guest of our Vice Chair. Marcus treated us to a short, fascinating and entertaining insight into the impressive philanthropic work the Mercer Company does in London, distributing over £12m annually to good causes.
January saw Holocaust Remembrance Day, which I attended for the Freemen. Always a poignant and well attended service. It was themed around crossing the generations and being kind in what we say and do. In times of increasing tensions it was pointing out that persecution and discrimination often start off with words.
March saw the Admissions ceremony. More on that later in this edition.
We are reviewing our merchandise, so do keep an eye out for updates. We are out of stock of small pin/lapel badges, but Shepherd & Woodward still have a few Freemen ties left at £10, cash only at their High Street shop. They also sell impressive wooden plaques with a hand painted Freemen logo at £45. They were featured in a recent journal.
Earlier this year I decided to step down from the Chair and committee. By the time you receive this journal there will be a vacancy on the committee, and for the Chair. Chris Butterfield, our Vice Chair will step in for now to deputise the role when required. We are actively seeking Freemen who will join the committee, and now also a Chair. Please see the article later.
I have been honoured to have Chaired the committee and represent the Freemen at events, in the little over two years I’ve been in post. It’s certainly and interesting and rewarding opportunity for someone, so please do consider it.
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