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SHEEP DRIVE: Bushey town crier takes part in unique ceremony

 Published on: 23rd October 2024   |   By: The Newsdesk   |   Category: Uncategorized

The Bushey town crier was at the Southwark Bridge to carry out the famous Sheep Drive ritual on Sunday, September 29.

The tradition is a way of celebrating the Freedom of the City of London and dates back to medieval times.

It recognises the privilege of the “Freeman’s ancient ‘right’ to bring sheep to market over the Thames, toll free” and the event raises money for The Woolmen Charity and The Lord Mayor’s Appeal.

More than 1,000 people attended the event, including masters, beadles and clerks all wearing traditional gowns, hats and medallions showing the Livery Company they belong to.

Representing our own town of Bushey, Marco the town crier made his way across the bridge with London Lord Mayor Professor Alderman Michael Mainelli.

Other benefits of being a Freeman include being permitted to walk streets with a drawn sward within the square mile and they could even choose to be hung with a silk sash if they were found guilty of treason.

This year, Hollywood actor Damian Lewis, who himself is a Freeman, swapped his ewe-sual roles to join the group to play the part of a shepherd.

You can find out more about this tradition at www.sheepdrive.london

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