A New Chapter of Service:

Becoming a Freeman of the Worshipful Company of Educators

28 October 2026 | Personal Journal | City of London & Public Service

On Tuesday, 27 October 2026, I had the privilege of being formally admitted to the Freedom of the Worshipful Company of Educators, one of the historic City of London’s 111 livery companies.

The occasion marked a significant personal milestone and the beginning of what I hope will be a lifelong relationship with the City of London, its institutions, traditions and commitment to public service.

Accompanied by my wife, Margaret, and our daughter, Megan, I made the required Declaration and was entered into the Company’s Freedom Register. My admission was witnessed by the Master, Anthony McClaran, and commemorated with a certificate bearing the Company’s coat of arms.

It was a particularly meaningful occasion to share with my family.

What Does It Mean to Become a Freeman?

The City of London’s livery companies have their origins in the medieval guilds, which brought together people engaged in particular trades and professions. They helped maintain professional standards, supported their members and contributed to the welfare of the wider community.

Although their purposes have evolved over the centuries, the livery companies remain an important part of the City’s civic and charitable life.

The Worshipful Company of Educators is the 109th livery company in the City of London’s order of precedence. Founded as a guild in 2001 and granted full livery status in 2013, it is dedicated to promoting excellence and integrity in education, training and lifelong learning.

Admission as a Freeman means becoming a formally recognised member of the Company, sharing in its fellowship, participating in its activities and supporting its professional and charitable objectives.

It is not simply about receiving a certificate or becoming associated with an historic institution. To me, it represents an invitation to contribute, to serve and to participate in something greater than oneself.

Connecting My Past with My Future

Having served for 22 years in the Royal Air Force, including responsibilities as an instructor and training supervisor, I have long believed in the importance of education, professional development and helping others fulfil their potential.

My subsequent experience in further education reinforced those convictions.

Throughout my working life, whether maintaining military aircraft, training service personnel or teaching young people, I have seen how education can change lives, develop character and equip individuals to serve their communities.

Joining the Worshipful Company of Educators brings together these different strands of my experience.

It also reflects my belief that education extends far beyond the classroom. Learning is a lifelong endeavour, and the knowledge, skills and experience we acquire carry with them a responsibility to help others.

A Growing Commitment to the City of London

My admission also marks the beginning of a new chapter in my interest in the civic life of the City of London.

The City’s unique traditions of governance, charitable giving, professional fellowship and civic responsibility have endured through centuries of change.

I find that continuity particularly compelling.

The livery companies demonstrate how historic institutions can remain relevant by adapting to contemporary needs while preserving the principles upon which they were established.

I hope, in due course, to pursue the Freedom of the City of London and potentially progress to become a Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Educators.

More importantly, I want to become actively involved in the life of the Company and the wider City, contributing my experience in education, military service, training and voluntary work wherever it may be useful.

I see this as the start of a long-term commitment, rather than simply another personal achievement.

The Privilege and Responsibility of Service

My Christian faith has increasingly shaped my understanding of leadership and public life.

I believe that genuine leadership is rooted in service, integrity, humility and a willingness to work for the good of others.

These principles are just as relevant in civic institutions as they are in education, the Armed Forces or the Church.

To receive the Freedom of the Worshipful Company of Educators is a privilege, but it also provides an opportunity to put those principles into practice.

I am grateful to the Master, the Court of Assistants and the members of the Company for welcoming me into their fellowship.

As I reflect on this milestone, I do so with gratitude for the experiences that have brought me here and with a genuine sense of anticipation for what lies ahead.

My hope is that this occasion will be remembered not merely as the day I became a Freeman, but as the beginning of many years of meaningful service.

Christopher Maguire

Freeman of the Worshipful Company of Educators

27 October 2026