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Joining the Company Qualifications for MembershipMembership is open to anyone over the age of twenty-one who will respect the Company’s heritage, take pride in its activities, and strive to maintain its standards. Prospective members have to be proposed and seconded by a member of the Court (the Company’s governing body). Applicants from all walks of life are welcome, particularly, but not exclusively, from those who have an interest in, or a connection with, the knitwear and hosiery industries. Currently the Company has a few immediate vacancies, and once those are filled, potential members may join as Freemen but will be placed on a Waiting List for advancement as Liverymen since, under its charter, the Company is currently limited to 275 Liverymen at any one time. Types of MembershipThere are two levels of membership of the Company: Freeman and Liveryman (terms which apply equally to both male and female members of the Company). A candidate for membership of the Company, after being proposed and seconded, is first admitted to the Freedom of the Livery through a simple ceremony which is usually held as part of one of the quarterly Court Meetings, at which point they become a Freeman, also known as “Free of the Livery”. Freemen of the Company are entitled to • a Freedom Certificate A member may choose to remain as a Freeman of the Company, but usually will progress to become a Liveryman. This is achieved after obtaining the Freedom of the City of London (via an application to the Guildhall, sponsored by the Company) and then attending a more substantial ceremony, again at a quarterly Court Meeting. Liverymen are able to: • attend formal Company functions (such as Livery Dinners) in their own right. Routes to EntryMembership of the Company can be obtained in four ways: by Patrimony; by Servitude; by Redemption; by Presentation. Patrimony is open to any child, whether natural born or adopted, of a Member, born subsequent to their parent’s admission to the Freedom, on reaching the age of twenty-one. Servitude (or apprenticeship), where the applicant, at between the ages of fourteen and twenty-one, has been bound as an Apprentice to a Livery Master for between four and eight years. Such apprentices and their Livery Masters have to sign Indentures, and each apprenticeship has to be enrolled at the Chamberlain’s Court in Guildhall, London. On completion of the apprenticeship, and having attained the age of twenty-one, the apprentice can claim admission to the Freedom of the company. The Company’s most recent apprenticeship was completed in 2007. Redemption, which is open to applicants not eligible by the previous routes. This is now the usual method of admission to the Freedom. Presentation, by which the Court may confer the Freedom and Livery of the Company upon a person who has rendered distinguished service to the Country, the City of London, the Company, or the knitting industry and its allied trades. Fines (fees) are payable on admission to the Freedom and subsequently on advancement to the Livery. The Fine will vary according to the route of entry. The current Fines and the Quarterage (the annual fees) are shown below. Membership Fees
* Provided that both join within twelve months of each other. How To JoinApplication for membership should be made in the first instance to the Clerk, Mr Alan Clark, who will be pleased to provide further information. He can be contacted via the link provided on the Contact Us page, or as follows: Mr Alan Clark Tel: 01708 - 510439 |