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PRINTImmediate Release: Tuesday 13 July 2010
Maj Gen Matthew Sykes CVO, Chief Executive of Elizabeth Finn Care received the Freedom of the City of London today to help mark his commitment to the Armed Forces and for his work with the City of London Corporation in a ceremony at the Guildhall.
The short ceremony began with Maj Gen Sykes making the Declaration of a Freeman pledging allegiance to HM The Queen and the Lord Mayor and ended with Maj Gen Sykes being greeted as a ‘Citizen of London’ and the presentation of his framed Freedom certificate.
Speaking after his Freedom ceremony, Maj Gen Sykes said: “This is a very special day for me. The City of London Corporation is extraordinarily generous and supportive of the Armed Forces, and in the last few years it has been my privilege to work closely with the City in demonstrating that recognition. Today is my last day in the Army after 35 and a half years, so where better to mark that occasion than in this great City. I feel very fortunate indeed to have received the honour of being granted the Freedom of the City at all, let alone on this of all days.”
Matthew Sykes was appointed to helm poverty charity Elizabeth Finn Care in May 2010, following completion of his duties in the Armed Forces.
He joined the Royal Artillery in 1975 before rising to be its Director as a Brigadier. In the same rank he served in Germany with NATO’s Rapid Reaction Corps, as Director Corporate Communications for the British Army, and he was the last Deputy Commander of the NATO Stabilization Force in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Upon promotion to Major General, after further operational duty in Kosovo, he served as the Defence Services Secretary in the Royal Household of the Sovereign and in the Ministry of Defence. In January 2009 he became the Assistant Chief of Defence Staff (Personnel).
The Freedom of the City of London is believed to have begun in 1237 and enabled recipients to carry out their trade. Today, people are nominated for Freedom because it offers them a link to the historic City of London.
The Freedom is also the method by which the City of London Corporation pays tribute to individuals whom it believes are deserving of recognition. However, many of the traditional privileges associated with the Freedom, including driving sheep over London Bridge and being drunk and disorderly in the City without fear of arrest, no longer exist.
ENDS
For information, photographs and interviews, please contact:
Kellie Smith, Senior Press Officer. Telephone: 020 8834 9263.
Mobile: 07783 435 746. kellie.smith@elizabethfinn.org.uk
Notes to Editors:
• Elizabeth Finn Care is a charity that helps people in financial need through direct financial support and access to welfare benefits, grants and other financial help from over 3,500 charities using the Turn2us comprehensive website (www.turn2us.org.uk) and freephone helpline.
• Since being founded in 1897, the charity has given away over £130m to people in need In 2009/2010 over 3564 British and Irish citizens were given grants totalling £3,669,920 by Elizabeth Finn Care.
• Turn2us was founded by Elizabeth Finn Care in 2007, and merged into Elizabeth Finn Care in October 2009.