At a meeting on 29 November 1945, the Court discussed the question of admitting distinguished persons to the Freedom and Livery of the Company by Gift. The Court unanimously decided to offer Field Marshal Bernard Law Montgomery (1st Viscount Montgomery of Alamein, KG, GCB, DSO, PC, DL) the Freedom and Livery of the Worshipful Company of Fletchers ‘as a token of this Company’s appreciation of the magnificent services to this Country rendered by all Members of His Majesty’s Army’. He received the Honorary Freedom of the Company on 12 July 1946. At the lunch after the ceremony, he very kindly donated the first £100 to help youth charities, particularly smaller ones, which depended on voluntary help. On 30 October 1946, an evening with music for members and their ladies was held to give them the opportunity to meet the Field Marshal. The photo is of Field Marshal Montgomery’s Freeman’s Oath; all Fletchers have to swear this oath on joining the Livery.
Reproduced by kind permission of the London Metropolitan Archives