Gild of Freemen of York

John Bowes Morrell, Esq
1873 – April 1963

Received on 28 September 1950

Civic Leader and Benefactor Director of Rowntree & Co., Chairman of Westminster Press, and held the esteemed position of Lord Mayor of York not just once, but twice. His dedication to the betterment of the community was further exemplified as a co-founder of the York Conservation Trust, York Civic Trust, and the prestigious University of York. His multifaceted contributions and unwavering commitment have left an indelible mark on the city’s fabric, earning him a place of honour in York’s rich history.

Edna Annie Crichton
1 May 1876 – 5 March 1970

Received on 16 September 1955

First female Lord Mayor and Alderman of York.
As lord mayor, she saw the city through the Baedeker raids and as Alderman led initiatives on health, housing and education. She later went on to establish a committee on housing, ensuring the construction of new homes and removal of dilapidated ones.

Tom Cecil Benfield

Received on 30 July 1969

Town Clerk of the City of York 1939 – 1969

Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York
15 October 1959 –

Received on 4 July 1987

Also known by the nickname Fergie, Sarah Ferguson is a renowned British author, philanthropist, and television personality. She is also widely recognized as a member of the extended British royal family. The Duchess of York has been actively involved in various charitable activities and initiatives, using her platform to advocate for important social causes. With her charismatic personality and dedication to making a positive impact, she continues to inspire and captivate audiences around the world.

HRH Katharine Lucy Mary, Duchess of Kent, GCVO
22 February 1933 –

Received on 22 April 1989

She is married to Prince Edward, Duke of Kent, a grandson of King George V. The Duchess of Kent converted to Catholicism in 1994; she was the first member of the royal family to convert publicly since the passing of the Act of Settlement 1701. The Duchess is strongly associated with the world of music and has performed as a member of several choirs.

Dame Judi Dench DBE
9 December 1934 –

Received on 13 July 2002

Widely considered one of Britain’s greatest actors she is noted for her versatile work in various films and television programmes encompassing several genres, as well as for her numerous roles on the stage. Dame Dench has garnered various accolades throughout a career that spanned seven decades, including an Academy Award, a Tony Award, two Golden Globe Awards, four British Academy Television Awards, six British Academy Film Awards, and seven Olivier Awards.

Dr. John Barry OBE
3 November 1933 – 30 January 2011

Received on 25 June 2002

John Barry, OBE (1933-2011) was a York born film score composer. He is best known for composing 11 James Bond soundtracks and was hugely influential on the 007 series’ distinctive style.

Dr. John Shannon CBE

1918 – 1 June 2010

Received on 13 November 2001

As chairman of York Civic Trust, Dr Shannon is credited with playing a major part in conserving the city’s heritage, most notably through the refurbishment of Georgian buildings Mansion House, in St Helen’s Square, and Fairfax House in Castlegate, which was neglected before being bought and restored by the trust in the early 1980s.

Berwick Kaler
31 October 1946 –

Received on 15 April 2003

An actor most famous for playing the dame in York Theatre Royal’s annual pantomime, which he also wrote and directed until 2020. In 2021 he parted ways with York Theatre Royal and took his brand of traditional panto to the York Grand Opera House. He has had TV roles in such shows as The New Statesman, Crocodile Shoes, Auf Wiedersehen, Pet and Spender as well as steady theatre work. However, it is his role in the York pantomime that has won him the most acclaim.

Steve Webster MBE
7 January 1960 –

Received on 29 April 2004

An English sidecar racer born in Easingwold, York, who has won six FIM Sidecar World Championships and four world cup, making him the most successful sidecar racer ever.

Dame Janet Baker CH, DBE, FRSA
21 August 1933 –

Received on 21 April 2005

An English mezzo-soprano best known as an opera, concert, and lieder singer. Dame Baker is particularly closely associated with baroque and early Italian opera and the works of Benjamin Britten. During her career, which lasted from the 1950s to the 1980s, she was considered an outstanding singing actress and widely admired for her dramatic intensity.

Professor Sir Ronald Urwick Cooke FRGS DL
1 September 1941 –

Received on 7 March 2006

Professor of geography and geomorphology who was vice-Chancellor of the University of York from 1993 to 2002. He was involved in the fund-raising for the restoration of York Minster, and in planning and restoration through the York Civic Trust. The York Civic Trust also published his monograph Why York is Special. and his 2016 book York, Changing the Face of the City.

Joyce Pickard
1921 – 2017

Received on 16 April 2007

Quaker, peace campaigner, and educator, she moved to York when she was appointed head teacher at the Mount School in 1960, the youngest ever. A founding member of the York Interfaith Group, and of the North Yorkshire branch of the Voluntary Euthanasia Society. She was one of the Quakers who set up and volunteered at the Peace Centre when it was based in York. Present at several of the Peace Camps around the UK, she also participated in numerous protests against inequality here in York.

Dr. Peter V Addyman CBE, FSA
12 July 1939 –

Received on 13 February 2008

A British archaeologist who was Director of the York Archaeological Trust from 1972 to 2002, the creation of which he had proposed; along with excavation work in York, he oversaw the development of the Jorvik Viking Centre, the Archaeological Resource Centre, and Barley Hall. In 2000 he was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire.

Ted Griffiths MBE
1919 – 3 November 2014

Received on 8 April 2009

Mr Griffiths was the chairman of the Royal British Legion’s Ridings group for many years and president of the York branch, organising its annual poppy appeal, earning the nickname ‘Mr. Poppy’. He was awarded the coveted Gold Badge, and was presented with the MBE in 1997 and won The Press’ Community Pride Person Of The Year trophy in 2010.

Dr. Richard Shephard MBE, DL, FRSCM
20 March 1949 – 20 February 2021

Received on 21 April 2009

A British composer, educator, and Director of Development and Chamberlain of York Minster. He was acclaimed as one of the most significant composers of church music of his time

Neal Guppy
1939 –

Received on 9 December 2010

His entrepreneurial debut came on April 7, 1961 when he organised a dance at Clifton Cinema Ballroom and later went on to found Guppy’s Enterprise Club in the 1960s, and moved to Nunnery Lane in 1974. The club has been a hub for art, education, hobbies and leisure activities and a meeting place for groups, clubs and societies, such as York War Games Society, Micklegate Artists and York Plastic Models Society.

Peter Gibson MBE, OBE
9 September 1929 – 13 November 2016

Received in 2011

An English glazier and craftsman who was known for his work at York Minster. He was the founder of York Glaziers Trust in 1967, and was its superintendent until his retirement in 1995.

Rt Hon Lord Crathorne, Charles James Dugdale, 2nd Baron Crathorne, KCVO, KStJ, FRSA, FSA 
12 September 1939 –

Received in April 2015

Lord Lieutenant of North Yorkshire from 1999 until 2014. He is also one of the ninety hereditary peers elected to remain in the House of Lords after the passing of the House of Lords Act 1999. In 1977, he succeeded to his father’s title.

Delma Tomlin MBE

Received on 17 December 2020 

Director of the National Centre for Early Music on Walmgate and former Chief Executive of the Millennium Mystery Plays. She has received an Honorary Doctorate at the University of York in 2000, an MBE for Services to the Arts in Yorkshire & Humberside in 2007 and was the first female Governor of the York Merchant Adventurers in 2022.  

Alison Sinclair

Received on 17 December 2020

A former civil servant who came to York in the 1980s to be near family, and has stayed ever since. She studied at the University of York, became an expert on architectural history and the archaeology of buildings, and went on to help set up the York Open Planning forum, which created the York local list. She also served as chair of York’s Conservation Areas Advisory Panel – and helped set up the Friends of Rowntree Park.