The Chairman of the NATO Military Committee is awarded the Freedom of the City of London

A tradition that stretches back to 1237, the Freedom of the City of London was a royal charter which granted rights to trade and conduct business, a necessity for retailers in the city. Sometimes, it doubled as an honour to bestow upon the country’s great and good. Today it is a symbolic award in recognition of outstanding achievements and contributions to London life.

The Chairman of the NATO Military Committee, Air Chief Marshal Peach’s nomination was presented by the Court of Common Council and supported by Catherine McGuinness, City of London Corporation Policy Chair and Simon D'Olier Duckworth, Deputy Chair. The nomination highlights the Chairman’s contributions to defence and security, as a long-serving airman but also as British Chief of Defence and more recently as NATO’s most senior military officer, the Chairman of the Military Committee.

The presentation ceremony took place in the Chamberlain’s Court at the Guildhall before the City Remembrancer, an Alderman and several Common Councilmen. As part of the tradition, Air Chief Marshal Sir Stuart Peach was invited to read the ‘Declaration of a Freeman’ which is a pledge of allegiance to the Queen and to the Lord Mayor of London, before his name was written in a sheepskin register, the Freeman’s Declaration Book. The Chairman also received a book called Rules for the Conduct of Life which he will have to obey to uphold the reputation of the “Freemen”. There is a long-standing tradition of the City admitting women to the Freedom. Although nowadays usually called Freemen as well, the historically correct way of referring to them is Free Sisters.

Extending his gratitude for the award, Air Chief Marshal, Sir Stuart Peach underlined that “it is a huge privilege to be part of such an ancient tradition in such a forward-looking city. It is also incredibly meaningful that as NATO celebrates its 70th Anniversary, the city that first hosted our great Alliance, now bestows on me, the Chairman of the NATO Military Committee, this great honour. I am deeply humbled and will make sure to uphold the values that it represents”. Air Chief Marshal Peach added that “London will once again play host to NATO next month when Heads of State and Government assemble in this great city for the NATO Leaders meeting. This will be an opportunity to address and discuss the security challenges we face now and in the future”.

Air Chief Marshal Peach is the first NATO Military Committee Chairman to receive the Freedom of the City of London. He joins a list of prominent of recipients, including Winston Churchill (1943), Theodore Roosevelt (1910), Florence Nightingale (1908), Dwight D. Eisenhower (1945) and Nelson Mandela (1996).