A MINIMAL amount of research last year revealed that St Helens had granted the 'Freedom of the Borough' to only nineteen persons over the past hundred years, and we ask ourselves 'Why?'

Here is the list for readers' inspection:

1896 Col. David Gamble CB, JP; 1897 Richard Pilkington, Esq., JP; 1902 The Rt. Hon. Richard J Seddon, PC; 1903 Josias Christopher Gamble Esq. JP; 1903 Thomas Cook Esq. JP; 1905 Col W W Pilkington, VD, JP; 1919 Henry Baker Bates Esq. JP; 1924 John Forster Esq., OBE, JP; 1966 Col G R Pilkington, DSO, JP; 1968 The Lord Pilkington; 1968 W Burrows Esq. OBE, JP; 1968 J E Hughes Esq. OBE, MM, JP; 1968 Mrs A A Shard JP; 1972 T Hignett Esq.; 1972 J A Waring Esq. JP; 1972 Mrs R Houghton JP; 1972 A T Coe Esq.; 1995 James Caunce MBE, JP; 1997 The Lord Evans.

A feature in 'The Companions' last year's anthology highlighted ex-Sister Duffy ('Duffy of the Providence Hospital') and her loyal service to the community over the past forty plus years and we strongly suggested that she should be honoured by the Town of her adoption, St Helens.

Shortly afterwards one of our members (MD) sent a letter to local newspapers suggesting that we should welcome in the Millennium by honouring some of our citizens by making them 'Freemen' and again the name of 'Sister Duffy' was forwarded. This suggestion was taken up by the 'Star' Newspaper and a letter from the Good Companions was forwarded which nominated four local personalities for the title of 'Freeman'. These being, Kathleen Duffy, Alex Murphy, Geoff Duke and posthumously, Lady Mavis Pilkington. Some weeks later it became known that Alex Murphy had been deservedly honoured in the New Years Honours List.

In returning to the list of 'Freemen', (a title which traditionally the Companions also suggested should be preserved, whether the recipient be man or woman), we found that, particularly over the later years, that the appointments were mainly 'political'. Another feature we noted, was that of the total of nineteen, only two were women. We reflected our dissatisfaction with this, (note) by our nominating two men and two women, none of which are, or were, 'political animals', but all of whom had brought great credit to St Helens over many years.

The Royal Family has taken great steps over recent months to identify with their subjects and it is time, we suggest, that St Helens Town Council did the same. Honour some of our loved citizens with the title 'Freemen of St Helens', it isn't too costly, and please listen to the voices in the streets and consider toeing the 'popularity line', if only for 'OUR' Millennium celebrations.

There are people out there who we are extremely proud of and we would simply wish to show it in our local and time honoured tradition.

EG, The Good Companions Writers of St Helens.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.