Freedom of Hartlepool
Tuesday 14th November 2017Congratulations to 1st Hartlepool Company which has been given the Freedom of the Borough of Hartlepool in a presentation made on 18th May 2017.
The 1st Hartlepool Company was founded in October 1886 as part of St Hilda’s Church. Sir William Alexander Smith carried out an Inspection of the 1st Hartlepool with over a hundred boys inspected in the Borough Hall; the meeting place of the Company to this very day. The Company has served as a catalyst for thousands of young men of the town and played a part in the life and growth of these people. Members of the Company have served in high profile roles within the town for example Fred Jacques who was Captain served as the first unified Mayor of the Borough of Hartlepool after the amalgamation of the towns of Hartlepool and West Hartlepool in 1967. The 1st Hartlepool is responsible for the founding of other organisations within the town, these being the 1st Hartlepool Girl’s Brigade and three of the towns Rugby Clubs, Hartlepool Boys Brigade Old Boys, Hartlepool Old Boys RFC and Hartlepool Athletic RUFC have all been formed through links with the Brigade or the Old Boys Institute of the Brigade, with members of the 1st Hartlepool also representing Great Britain and Ireland touring with the
British Lions.
Currently the Company has 27 lads attending each week aged from 5 to 16 years. Hartlepool Mayor, Councillor Robert Cook presented the latest Queens Men, Jaxon Simmonds and Anthony Miller with the Queen’s Badges last year.
The Presentation of a framed parchment and engraved silver plate was accepted by Company Captain Paul Craggs on behalf of all members past and present.
