FREEMAN OF SALFORD A GREAT HONOUR BUT... WHERE ARE THE WOMEN?

My good friend John Cooper Clarke is the latest in a long line of people who have been chosen to be made Freeman of the City of Salford, joining such other luminaries as, Ben Wallworth, Alan Henning, Nelson Mandela, Ryan Giggs, Mike Leigh, Harold Riley and Sir Peter Maxwell Davies to name but a few.

The Salford Council webpage lists all the recipients and describe the award thus:

Quote

 

"To be granted the title of Honorary Freeman is a mark of distinction upon the person whom the council wishes to honour, the freedom itself carries no privilege and is purely an honour, reflecting the eminence of the person on whom it is conferred or as recognition of significant and valuable services rendered to the city by that person. 

It is normally an honour or award to men or women of note who have lived or worked in the city, and who are proud to be a part of the city's history by becoming freemen or in the case of HM Services Units, freedom of the city". 

"It is normally an honour or award to men or women of note".

 

I have looked at the list of people who have granted this award, 28 in total and there is only one woman in that list,  Charis Ursula Frankenburg, a JP in Salford and awarded this for service in the field of health and social welfare, way back in March 1973, over 50 years ago!

We can assure Salford Council that there are many more woman in this city, both past and present, who fit the required criteria.

Surely in these more enlightened times and in a city with such a progressive council, it would make perfect sense to bestow this honour more deserving female recipients... Shelagh Delaney who died in 2011 would be my choice for a posthumous award.

We are not accusing Salford Council of sexism as the reality is that they are one of the most diverse and encompassing councils within the country, but it would be nice to see some of our revered female characters joining the (so far), all male ranks and given the recognition they rightly deserve.

Salford has produced it's fair share of women with powerful voices over the years, who have helped raise the profile of Salford or in some way have helped better the lives of others both in our city and at a national level.

Hopefully this can be amended, and I am certain each one of us, has a female candidate in mind, so lets hear some of yours in the comments on social media.

Full list of the people who have been chosen for the award since 1899 to present day, makes interesting reading.

https://www.salford.gov.uk/your-council/awards/freedom-of-the-city/#:~:text=One of the oldest surviving,earn money and own land