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Freedom of the Borough

Freedom is an award given to very few people, and is the highest honour the council can give.

People 'of distinction' and people who have, in the council's opinion, 'rendered eminent services to the borough' are given the title 'Honorary Freeman of the Borough of Middlesbrough'.

HM Services units are given 'Freedom of the Borough'.

The Freedom boards

There are two Freedom boards in the Council Chamber. The oldest board lists the people who were given Freedom by the County Borough of Middlesbrough. The second board lists those who were given Freedom by Middlesbrough Council.

We're trying to provide as much information as possible about the people who have been granted Freedom. You can download a booklet with more information in about the people listed on each board.

We also have copies of some of the commemorative booklets given out at the Freedom ceremonies. If we have the person's booklet, you can open it by clicking on their name. Unfortunately these documents are old, so they're not accessible. If you need the information in a different format, please email civics@middlesbrough.gov.uk.

People granted Freedom by the County Borough of Middlesbrough

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Below is a list of people granted Freedom by the County Borough of Middlesbrough. You can find out more about the people on this board in the old freedom board booklet.

  • William Fallows - 9 March 1886
  • Raylton Dixon - 14 January 1890
  • Isaac Wilson - 26 July 1892
  • William Bulmer - 14 March 1894
  • Sir Lowthian Bell, Bart - 2 November 1894
  • Hugh Bell - 2 November 1894
  • Samuel A Sadler - 13 July 1897
  • Arthur John Dorman - 11 October 1904
  • Richard Archibald - 8 March 1910
  • Joseph Calvert - 7 November 1919
  • Thomas Dormand Stewart - 6 November 1924
  • William Joseph Bruce - 3 April 1925
  • Thomas Gibson Poole - 13 April 1932
  • Miss Edith J Carter (Mrs Carter Owen) - 26 March 1934
  • Preston Kitchen CBE - 23 September 1936
  • John Wesley Brown - 21 September 1944
  • George Absalom Carey - 26 June 1946
  • Thomas Meehan OBE - 2 February 1949
  • John William Welch - 2 May 1956
  • Bertram Ramsey - 5 March 1958
  • Lewis Taylor - 30 March 1967
  • Louisa Burton - 30 March 1967
  • Right Rev. Monsignor Canon M O'Sullivan - 26 March 1968
Plaque listing people awarded Freeman of the Borough by the County Borough of Middlesbrough

People granted Freedom by Middlesbrough Council

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Below is a list of people granted Freedom by Middlesbrough Council. You can find out more about the people on this board in the new freedom board booklet.

Plaque listing people awarded Freeman of the Borough by Middlesbrough Council

Regiments granted the Right of Freedom of Entry

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The freedom of entry to a town or borough is a highly-prized honour as it implies a long and harmonious association between a regiment and the community it serves.

The Green Howards (Alexandra, Princess of Wales' own Yorkshire Regiment) - 13 May 1944

Transferred to the Yorkshire Regiment on 25 October 2006.

The Freedom of the Borough was originally granted to the Green Howards on 13 May 1944. However, on 6 June 2006, the Green Howards (Alexandra, Princess of Wales' own Yorkshire Regiment), The Prince of Wales' own Regiment of Yorkshire and the Duke of Wellington's Regiment (West Riding) plus their affiliated Territorial Army units joined together to become the Yorkshire Regiment.

As a result of this amalgamation, on 25 October 2006 the Freedom of the Borough was given to the 2nd Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment (Green Howards).

On 5 April 2023, the regiment was granted royal status by His Majesty King Charles III.

The 2nd Battalion, The Yorkshire Regiment exercised their right to have freedom parades on 18 June 2008 and 21 June 2016. The 2016 parade was held in celebration of the 10th anniversary of the Regiment.

Members of the Yorkshire Regiment on parade in Middlesbrough

34th (Northern) Signal Regiment (Volunteers) - 16 May 1969

Freedom of the County Borough of Teesside was given to the 34th (Northern) Signal Regiment (Volunteers) on Friday 16 May 1969 at a ceremony held in the Town Hall.

View the Freedom booklet for 34th (Northern) Signal Regiment (Volunteers).

This right was then transferred to the Borough of Middlesbrough in 1974 as a result of local government reorganisation.

The 34th (Northern) Signal Regiment (Volunteers) was formed on 1 April 1967 by the amalgamation of two famous Divisional Signal Regiments - 49 (West Riding) and 50 (Northumbrian).

49 Regiment was based in Leeds and 50 Regiment had a history of over 60 years of being directly associated with Middlesbrough. It was the first regiment to be granted the Freedom of the new Borough of Teesside.

It was disbanded in 2009 following the reduction in size of the Territorial Army element of the Royal Signals, and the regimental headquarters at Brambles Farm in Middlesbrough was subsequently closed.

The 34th (Northern) Signal Regiment (Volunteers) exercised their right and distinction to have freedom parades on 22 March 1975 and 3 July 1999.

HMS Marlborough - 15 March 2000

HMS Marlborough was a Duke-class Type 23 frigate formerly in service with the Royal Navy and the sixth ship to bear the name. She was named after John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough.

The ship entered service with the Royal Navy in 1991, served in the Middle East and was taken out of service in 2005.

HMS Marlborough made her final visit to Middlesbrough from 9 to 13 June 2005 before she was decommissioned.

View the Freedom booklet for HMS Marlborough.