Essex cricket captain Ronnie Irani is set to receive the freedom of the City of London.

Next Wednesday, the 31-year-old cricketer will have the title bestowed upon him at the Guildhall in London in an ancient ceremony dating back to 1237.

The honour of freedom of the City of London dates back to the medieval concept of a 'freeman,' who was not the property of a feudal lord and was entitled to earn money and own land.

Within the City of London no person born outside the City could become an apprentice to one of the guilds, which effectively controlled the business of their particular trade, unless he first swore that he was the son of a freeman.

Until 1835 membership of a livery company, the successors of the guilds, and freedom of the City were obligatory to all who wanted to exercise a trade there.

The England and Essex all-rounder said: "This is a tremendous honour for me and my family."

He explained how he came to receive the honour: "A friend of mine, Steve Austin who is a Chelmsford lad and who played for Heybridge Swifts, has a catering business in London. He is an Essex cricket supporter and he put my name forward for the Freemanship some while ago in acknowledgement of my performances last year.

"Then about two weeks ago, I heard that I was going to receive the Freemanship of the City London which is great.

''I understand that the honour attracts certain privileges like being allowed to walk a flock of sheep over London Bridge.

''That might not be of much use to me at present, I'm more interested in eating roast lamb but who knows, I might yet become a member of the landed gentry when this might have more significance.

"Also I'm allowed to get married in St Paul's Cathedral but I'll have to ask my wife, Lorraine if she and the children want to go through that ceremony.

"Seriously, it is a great honour and one that I had never considered I'd merit."

Published Friday, April 11, 2003

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