SIX members of the same family have all become freemen of the city of Oxford in a ceremony which took place in the university city.
Tom Hanks, an accountant based in Douglas, was the latest to follow in a family tradition which started when his great great great grandfather James Gardiner received the honour in the early 19th century.
‘I believe it gives us the right to graze cattle and horses on a 300-acre plot of land known as Port Meadow just outside Oxford next to the Thames,’ he said. ‘I can’t ever see myself or any other members of the family taking advantage of that directly to be honest but it is a great honour.
‘And it’s important, of course, to maintain the green areas like this and the public rights of way across it.’
Also taking part in the ceremony were Mr Hanks’ Manx wife Kirsty, also an accountant, his older brother Nick, 39, Nick’s wife Lucy, his sister Liz and their mother Margaret,
Mr Hanks’ father Martin, who was born and brought up in Oxford and ran a bookshop there for many years, became a Freeman in 1973, as did his uncle Tim Hanks who now also lives in the Isle of Man. Both were following in the footsteps of their father Charles, also a Freeman.
Though Mr Hanks and his siblings were all born in Oxford, he and other family members travelled from around the British Isles to be there for the ceremony – he had his wife from the Isle of Man, his sister Liz from Sheffield and his parents from Bude in Cornwall where they now live.
The ceremony took place last week – 40 years on from his father’s. The right to become Freemen is passed on through family members and was recently extended to wives, which is why Mr Hanks’ mother Margaret took the plunge 40 years on from her husband.
‘We all wanted to do it but it has taken a while to find a time when everyone was available at the same time,’ Mr Hanks said.
A formal application is made along with proof that other family members were Freemen and the formal ceremonies are then held a few times a year.
At the ceremony, each applicant makes and individual declaration, then in unison all read out a lengthy oath.
‘It’s a bit of a challenge because it last about 15 minutes and contains a lot of archaic language,’ he said.
Freemen then get a large certificate showing the oath and valideated by the signature of the Lord Mayor.
Mr Hanks came to the island to work after university and now lives in Saddlestone. His uncle lives in Marathon Road.
James Gardiner, Mr Hanks’ great great great grandfather, was born in early 1800s was apprenticed to Oxford builder John Hudson. He was admitted as a Freeman on February 25, 1820.
His great great grandfather became a Freeman in 1868 and his great-grandfather in 1901.
