Trades earn men a place as members of city’s freemen

Two time-served craftsmen have been sworn in as freemen of their city - more than 100 years after they first became eligible to join.

Norman Johnston, 85, known as Syd, started work as an apprentice bricklayer with Durham Rural District Council in 1952.

Miner’s son Anthony Pritchard, 64, was employed as a trainee joiner with a company after leaving school at 15.

It was only recently both men were told by friends that having completed recognised apprenticeships within the city they qualified for membership of the centuries-old craft guilds.

At the age of 21 Syd joined the Royal Military Police to complete National Service, which took him to Japan and Korea shortly after hostilities had concluded.

After two years, he returned to his home city and to his job with the council, which entitled him to join the Masons’ Company of the City of Durham Freemen,

Anthony, a member of the Institute of Certified Carpenters, it is a similar story, as he could have joined more than 40 years ago but “never gave it a second thought” until a recent conversation with a member.

After completing his apprenticeship he switched to the city council’s workshops, where he spent a decade before joining Durham University’s estates unit where he worked for more than 20 years, retiring six years ago.

He has joined the Joiners’ Company.

The freemen’s eight companies are the modern day survivors of an organisation believed to date back to 1327 and today has more than 250 members.

For more information visit www.durhamcityfreemen. org.