Tim Kelly Awarded Freedom of the City of London

We’re delighted to announce Tim Kelly, (Kelly Group Chairman) was awarded Freedom of the City of London on Monday, 4th July 2022. The prestigious ceremony was held at the Guildhall, home to the City of London Corporation, within the impressive Chamberlain's Court Room and was witnessed by a selection of close family and friends.

Records show, this is the first time since 1930 that a Donegal man has received this notable honour. The Frosses native was personally nominated for this historic award by The Lord Mayor, Vincent Keaveny and Lady Mayoress, Amanda Keaveny. They both acknowledged Tim’s continuous support and long-standing business operations within the City of London and his notable charitable work supporting a variety of non-profit organisations.

 

“Amanda and I are delighted to support Tim’s Freedom of the City of London, in recognition of his hard work and dedication over the years, as well as his indefatigable work for charity. We are rightly proud of the Freedom, which dates back to medieval times, and we feel sure that Tim will hold this award close to his heart and with it, accept our warmest wishes.”

                                                                                   – Vincent Keaveny / Lord Mayor of the City of London

  

When the UK started awarding its first cable franchises in 1984, Tim recognised an opportunity. With several years cable industry experience under his belt, having worked for his brothers Aidan and Neil in Dublin, Tim, along with his brother Bernard founded Kelly Brothers in London in 1985. Their very first installation was in New Addington, London, on the 17th of September 1985 for Croydon Cable. From 1990 the company then became known as Kelly Communications Ltd and was joined a few years later by Tim’s sister Fiona and brother Declan as group directors.

The Freedom of the City honour, is a special milestone for Tim and Kelly Group, acknowledging their consistent work within the City of London since the 1980s. Tim and his brothers Raymond and Declan with companies including Kelly Technical Services, Kelly Communications and Kelly Group are proud to have won an award every year since the inception of the City of London’s Considerate Contractor Scheme in 1994. These awards recognise  the high standard of work delivered within the Square Mile, which was the very route taken, when Kelly Group took part in their first Lord Mayor’s Show in November 2021, celebrating the incumbent Lord Mayor, Vincent Keaveny.

 

“I’m extremely honoured to receive the Freedom of the City award and to join the many outstanding women and men who previously received this very prestigious title. A huge thank you to The Lord Mayor, Vincent Keaveny, The Lady Mayoress, Amanda Keaveny, and Vince Dignam (City of London Corporation’s Business Performance & Transport Group Manager) for their recognition. I’m very proud of the continual work we have delivered within the City for 30+ years and I am very much looking forward to supporting the City of London for many years to come.”

– Tim Kelly / Kelly Group Chairman

Being admitted as a Freeman of the City of London is one of the oldest surviving traditional ceremonies still in existence today, which is believed to have been first presented in the early 1200s.

Becoming a Freeman of the City was a privilege, freeing the individual from being bound to the federal lord and earning the right to trade and own land in the city. During the Medieval ages, the title also provided protection by the City, thus those citizens were often perceived as free – this privilege is still preserved in the title ‘Freedom of the City’.

As the city evolved over time, between the Middle Ages and the period of Queen Victoria's reign, freedom eventually became an essential requirement of a member of a livery or guild to trade within the well-known Square Mile.

In the modern world, most privileges and practicalities have now disappeared, however, many people who work or live in the City perceive this title as an honour and it remains to be an important tradition which has been maintained and respected since medieval times. Receiving the ‘Freedom of the City’ is relevant today as it is a requirement to become a liveryman, who elects the Lord Mayor and Sheriffs to run the Corporation of London each year.