
HISTORY OF THE BURGESS AND HONORARY FREEMEN/WOMEN
Historically the status of Burgess was hereditary and the ownership or occupation of a house or a door opening onto the High Street was the original requirement. In 1226 there were 26 Burgesses. Within 20 days of election a Burgess had to deliver a leather bucket for the use of the corporation to be kept in the town hall. The town’s Burgesses acted corporately as the town’s first ‘council’ to make decisions for the common good of the town inhabitants.
Prior to 1974 the borough of High Wycombe had the right, by law, to confer the Honorary Freedom of the Borough on persons deemed to have rendered singular service to the town. This was the highest honour which the town could bestow.
The Local Government Act of 1972, which reorganised Local Government into its present form, created Charter Trustee Towns to preserve the Mayoralty but did not continue the right to grant Honorary Freedoms, although this was bestowed elsewhere. As results of this change several Charter Trustee Towns, including High Wycombe, decided to create their own means of honouring persons of merit, creating Honorary Burgesses. The title of Honorary Burgess is therefore a link with the municipal past and a means of continuing the time honoured desire to honour such persons.
In 2009, an amendment was made to the 1972 Government Act to enable towns to award the prestigious honour of Freedom of the Town.
The above information is courtesy of The Book of Wycombe by Ivan Sparkes, and Charles E Talbot, Honorary Secretary of the National Association of Charter Trustee Towns and Charter Town Councils.
Honorary Burgesses of High Wycombe include:
Name Date of Resolution
Albert Henry McRae (Deceased) 17th May 1990
Mrs Winifred Darby (Deceased) 17th May 1990
Ronald Henry William Gaffney IPEA ACIS (Deceased) 16th May 1991
Frederick G Secker DFC (Deceased) 14th May 1992
Lucian B Ercolani DSO DFC Hon D Des (Deceased) 20th May 1993
Ronald G Thomas (Deceased) 16th May 1996
Mrs Shaukat Amin MBE BA BT (Deceased) 16th May 1996
Basil A Di Mascio (Deceased) 15th May 1997
Mrs Elizabeth M Barratt MBE JP (Deceased )2nd September 1999
Mrs Kathleen M Peatey MBE JP (Deceased) 2nd September 1999
Montague Edward Seymour MRPharmS (Deceased) 10th January 2002
David Morris FIBE (Deceased) 16th January 2003
Lawrence B N Dallaglio MBE 12th December 2003
Simon D Shaw MBE 12th December 2003
Stuart R Abbott MBE 12th December 2003
Owen J Lewsey MBE 12th December 2003
Joseph P R Worsley MBE 12th December 2003
Matthew J S Dawson MBE 12th December 2003
Amir Dad Khan Raja MSc 15th January 2004
Jim Tanner (Deceased) 3rd November 2004
David Fieldhouse (Deceased) 13th March 2007
Peter Cartwright 13 thMarch 2007
William Pollard 9th May 2009
John Auld Clark (Deceased)1st September 2009
Honorary Freemen of the Borough of Chepping Wycombe include:
Name Date of Resolution
Charles Robert Carrington 16th October 1923
James George Peace 16th October 1923
Charles Walter Rafferty 16th October 1923
Colonel Lewis Leslie Clayton Reynolds 16th October 1923
Arthur Vernon 16th October 1923
Philip John Rutland 24th February 1931
Thomas John Rushbrooke 19th October 1937
Frank Walter Rafferty 15th December 1942
Sir Arthur Travers Harris 4th February 1946
Lieutenant Ira Clarence Eaker 23rd February 1946
Honorary Freemen of the Borough of High Wycombe include:
Name Date of Resolution
Owen Haines 20th November 1951
Walter Henry Tyzack 20th November 1951
Albert John Gibbs 21st July 1953
Roland Peace Clarke 17th March 1959
Robert Earnest Darby 17th March 1959
Percy Charles Rafferty 17th March 1959
John Kendal Taylor 17th March 1959
The 1st Green Jackets (now known as the 7 Rifles) 20th February 1962
Charles William Lance 6th December 1966
Geoffrey Harold Baker 21st January 1969
RAF High Wycombe 8th December 1970
Honorary Freemen/Freewomen of High Wycombe include:
Name Date of Resolution
William George Reid 21st February 2022
Jackie Kay 24th May 2025