One of the most distinctive voices in British media has been given the Freedom of the today, in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the cultural life of London during a career spanning nearly 50 years.
Journalist, author, and TV and radio presenter, Robert Elms – whose multi-award-winning daily radio show has run for 32 years on BBC London – attended his ceremony at Guildhall, joined by family members, friends, and colleagues.
Robert has been nominated for the Freedom by the Corporation’s Policy Chairman, Chris Hayward, and one of his colleagues, Helen Fentimen, who represents Aldersgate Ward in the City.
Educated at London School of Economics, Robert’s career began at The Face magazine in the 1980s, where he became a noted cultural commentator and went on to write for most of the UK’s major newspapers and magazines. As a broadcaster, Robert rose to prominence on BBC Radio 4’s Loose Ends and enjoyed success as a travel writer for The Sunday Times and GQ magazine, as well as presenting Channel 4’s Travelog series.
Robert has written six books, including the Penguin novel, In Search of the Crack, his sartorial memoir, The Way We Wore: A Life in Threads, and London Made Us. His latest book is Blitz: The Club That Created the Eighties.
Robert lives with his wife in a 34th floor flat on the Barbican Estate and a 1,000-year-old Moorish house in Andalucia. He lists his loves as London, Queens Park Rangers F.C., Spain, jazz, and brutalist architecture.
Corporation Policy Chairman, Chris Hayward, said:
“There are few people more deeply engaged with, not to say, in love with London as Robert Elms, which is abundantly clear from the way in which he writes about, and talks about, our great capital in his books and in particular, on his hugely popular BBC London radio show.
“As such an enthusiastic and knowledgeable ambassador for London, Robert has proved himself to be a worthy recipient of the Freedom.”
Corporation Elected Member, Helen Fentimen, said:
“Whether it’s London’s social history, youth culture, music scene, or fashion trends over the years, Robert is a fountain of knowledge, having informed and entertained us in print, on television, and on the radio since the 1980s.
“Alongside Chris Hayward, I am delighted to support Robert’s Freedom nomination, which is richly deserved, and I am sure that he will have very happy memories of today’s ceremony for many years to come.”
Speaking after his Freedom ceremony, Robert Elms said:
“As a very proud Londoner born and bred and a resident of the City, it is a fantastic honour to be made a Freeman of the place that I love.
“As a broadcaster, London has been my inspiration, my audience, and my passion, so this feels like the culmination of a career spanning almost half a century in writing and radio.”
One of the ’s ancient traditions, the Freedom is believed to have begun in 1237 and enabled recipients to carry out their trade.
As well as being nominated for, or applying for, the Freedom, it is also offered by the 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.
Recent high-profile recipients include sports promoter, Barry Hearn; former professional boxer, Michael Watson; multi-award-winning choreographer and director, Sir Matthew Bourne; and Professor Dame Sarah Gilbert, who initiated and led the development of the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine.
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