Ronnie Wood receives the Freedom of London but cannot drive sheep and cattle over London Bridge

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By ( Classic Rock ) published

Rolling Stones guitarist Ronnie Wood has been given the Freedom of the City of London, but the award's not quite what it once was

Ronnie Wood and London
Ronnie Wood and a London scene (Image credit: Stuart C. Wilson/Sylvain Sonnet/Getty Images)

Rolling Stones guitarist Ronnie Wood has been awarded the Freedom of the City of London.

The accolade is offered to key people of all nationality and backgrounds who are considered to have provided exceptional service to the capital, with previous recipients including Admiral of the Fleet Rt Hon Lord Mountbatten of Burma, Diana, Princess of Wales, King Kigeli V of Rwanda, Dwight D. Eisenhower, Nelson Mandela, Luciano Pavarotti, Morgan Freeman and J. K. Rowling.

Ronnie, needless to say, was delighted with the award. 

“My Lord Mayor, Lord Chamberlain, Ladies and Gentlemen, I am humbled and honoured to receive the Freedom of the City of London," says Wood. "As a child, I saw the city from the canals and over the years I’ve seen it from many different perspectives. 

"Despite my career in music and art taking me all over the world, I am never happier than when coming home to this great city where I was born. It is a lovely surprise to be recognised with this award and it has made me, Sally, and my twin girls Alice and Gracie very proud.

"I very much hope to come and meet you in person at the Guildhall when circumstances allow."

Freedom of the City of London is often thought to bestow certain privileges on the recipient, but these honours are largely historical (the right to drive cattle over London Bridge) or apocryphal (the right to a silken rope if hanged, and the right to carry an unsheathed sword in public).  

Ronnie will, however, receive a nice certificate.

Fraser Lewry
Fraser Lewry
Online Editor, Classic Rock

Online Editor at Louder/Classic Rock magazine since 2014. 40 years in music industry, online for 27. Also bylines for: Metal Hammer, Prog Magazine, The Word Magazine, The Guardian, The New Statesman, Saga, Music365. Former Head of Music at Xfm Radio, A&R at Fiction Records, early blogger, ex-roadie, published author. Once appeared in a Cure video dressed as a cowboy, and thinks any situation can be improved by the introduction of cats. Favourite Serbian trumpeter: Dejan Petrović.