Londonderry Freedom Award
Samuel Dowds
Category
Leatherwork
Date
Unknown
Materials
Place of origin
Londonderry
Order this imageCollection
Chartwell, Kent
NT 1101034
Summary
Londonderry Freedom Award. Illuminated paper scroll on leather backing, signed by Samuel Dowds as Mayor, in a cylindrical maroon coloured case. Formerly part of the Heirloom Collection.
Full description
Churchill received the Freedoms of Belfast and Londonderry at the Mansion House, London on 16 December 1955. There are British Pathé and British Movietone films of the presentation with good shots of Churchill receiving the caskets. Associated with the Enniskillen Fusiliers medal (CMS 1101157) and the Belfast Freedom ( CMS 1100788). As well as the Lord Mayor of Belfast, Mayor of Londonderry and the Prime Minister of Northern Ireland four Field-Marshals were present, three of whom were Irish (Alanbrooke, Montgomery and Alexander) and well as the current one Sir Gerald Templer. On 17 December 1955 The Times reported, “… The cheers that echoed through the Egyptian Hall were those of Northern Ireland’s citizens. More particularly, they were those of the people of Belfast, tow which were added the acclamations of the citizens of Londonderry, with all Ulster making, as it were, a chorus led by the Government of Northern Ireland. Thus were the freedoms of two cities and the gift of their country’s government presented with a deeply impressive show of affection to the veteran statesman. … The Londonderry certificate was enclosed in a silver miniature of ‘Roaring Meg’, a cannon used in defence of the city during the siege of 1688-89. …” The Churchill Archive contains: The Mayor of Belfast and the Mayor of Londonderry, Lord Brookeborough, (formerly Sir Basil Brooke) Prime Minister of Northern Ireland (6) on presentation of the Freedoms of Belfast and Londonderry, Northern Ireland, at the Mansion House, London, with printed order of proceedings, table plan for luncheon, carbon copy of notes for WSC's speech, note by Christopher Soames, with suggestions by Willie Orr MP for WSC's speech, text of speeches by the Lord Mayor of Belfast and the Mayor of Londonderry, note by George Christ, Conservative and unionist Central Office on WSC's speech, letter from Lord Chandos (formerly Oliver Lyttelton), asking him to say something about unemployment in Northern Ireland in his speech of acceptance 1946-55 [presentation made Dec 1955].
Makers and roles
Samuel Dowds, signatory