Freedom of the Borough of Southend ceremony, 1985

Excerpts from the ceremony to confer the Freedom of the Borough of Southend-on-Sea on Councillor Albert Mussett.

[00:28:] Prayer by Rev John Gore
[02:01:] Motion to propose freedom by Councillor Norman Clarke (excerpts)
[04:10:] Councillor Lockhart, then Deputy Mayor, seconding resolution (excerpts)
[05:39:] Resolution supported by Councillor Herbert
[07:22:] Proposal by Councillor Hurst to make resolution unanimous
[08:46:] Resolution passed unanimously
[09:07:] Mr Mussett signing roll; casket containing scroll admitting him to freedom presented to Mr Mussett
[10:18:] Mr Mussett’s reply (excerpts)

Recorded by Edward Haley, and used here with kind permission of the family. You can listen to the full recording through our Essex Archives Online catalogue. The ceremony to confer the Freedom of the town on Fred Laws on the same day was also recorded by Mr Haley (SA 20/1/49).

Most recently, the Freedom was conferred on RAF No. 54 Reserve Squadron in recognition of the squadron’s association with the town during the Second World War. You can watch the webcast of the ceremony on the Southend Borough Council’s website. How has the ceremony changed?