One of the country’s most popular ‘hard man’ character actors, Ray Winstone, has received the Freedom of the City of London today, in recognition of his fundraising and charitable work.
A lifelong supporter of the West Ham United Foundation, the official charity of Winstone’s beloved West Ham United Football Club, he also supports ICAP’s London office’s Annual Charity Day.
The event, which is linked to The Lord Mayor’s Appeal, enables ICAP and its City brokers to donate 100% of their revenues and commissions to charity.
Winstone, who attended today’s ceremony with the Lady Mayor Dame Susan Langley at her official residence, The Mansion House, was nominated by former Lord Mayors of the City of London, Alastair King, who served last year, and Sir William Russell.
During a career spanning five decades, his extensive film credits include Scum, Quadrophenia, Cold Mountain, Hugo, Beowulf, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, Sexy Beast, and Nil By Mouth, for which he won a BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role.
Winstone has also appeared in many TV shows, including The Bill, Ever Decreasing Circles, One Foot in the Grave, Boon, Birds of a Feather, Home to Roost, Henry VIII, and Auf Wiedersehen, Pet.
Speaking after his Freedom ceremony, Ray Winstone said:
“Today, more than ever, I am a very proud Londoner and if my Mum and Dad were still here to see me receiving the Freedom of the City of London, I know that it would have meant the world to them – as it does me.
“This has been such a special day for me, and I am very grateful to Lady Mayor Sue Langley for hosting my guests and I at The Mansion House, and to Alastair King and William Russell for nominating me.”
Lady Mayor of the City of London, Dame Susan Langley, said:
“Ray Winstone may have earned his ‘hard man’ credentials on screen but, off screen, he’s always had a big heart, as you can really see in his charitable work.
“West Ham means a lot to both of us: it’s the club that we’ve both supported for years, and it’s the area where I was born, so it’s been a real joy to see him receive this recognition today.”
The City of London Corporation is one of the largest funders of arts, cultural, and heritage activities in the UK and invests over £130m every year. It manages a range of world-class cultural and heritage institutions, including the Barbican Centre, Tower Bridge, Guildhall School of Music & Drama, Guildhall Library, Guildhall Art Gallery and London’s Roman Amphitheatre, The London Archives, and Keats House. It also supports the London Symphony Orchestra and the new London Museum, which will open next year.
As well as being nominated for, or applying for, the Freedom, it is also offered by the City of London Corporation to individuals as a way of paying tribute to their outstanding contribution to London or public life, or to celebrate a very significant achievement.
One of the City of London’s ancient traditions, the Freedom is believed to have begun in 1237 and enabled recipients to carry out their trade.
Recent high-profile recipients include actor, director, producer, and humanitarian, Cate Blanchett; choreographer and director, Sir Matthew Bourne; comedian, actor, and author, Sir Lenny Henry; and sport ambassador and former Olympic and Commonwealth Games athlete, Lady Mary Peters.
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