Salvation Army founder to be honoured in Nottingham

Businessmen Nat Puri and Mich Stevenson - two freemen of Nottingham. Credit: ITV Central Weather

The Nottingham-born founder of The Salvation Army, William Booth, will be recognised as part of historic freemen celebrations today.

Events include the Mercian Regiment's mascot ram being herded across the city's Trent Bridge.

This year marks The Salvation Army's 150th anniversary.

In 1905 William Booth was the second person to be awarded the Freedom of Nottingham - the highest honour a council can award.

The events today will be attended by several of William Booth's descendants as well as five of the living honorary freemen.

A photo exhibition about the honorary freemen will also launch as a private display at the Council House in Old Market Square. With the part of the exhibition about William Booth moving to the foyer and opening to the public on Tuesday, June 23rd.

Booth founded the Salvation Army in 1865, and the charity has spread into a global organisation.

Booth's great great grandson Herve Cachelin today attended a private exhibition at the Council House about the city's freemen.

Also present were two living freemen, local businessmen Mich Stevenson and Nat Puri. Both told ITV News Central that it was the greatest honour they've ever had. Others who've been given the title include ice skaters Torvill and Dean and boxer Carl Froch.

Businessmen Nat Puri and Mich Stevenson - two freemen of Nottingham. Credit: ITV Central News

A freeman of Nottingham has privileges including, the right to be exempt from borough tolls and tithes.

This may be the basis behind the often repeated assertion that Freemen "have the right to drive sheep over Trent Bridge" since tolls were normally charged for crossing the bridge-trading rights and monopolies within the local area.