It is with great pride that our family are enrolled as Burgesses of Preston. This is an honour which has been renewed at each Preston Guild since an ancestor was the Guild Mayor in the 16th century.

Every Guild (20 years) we are summoned to attend the opening of the Guild Court to answer as our names are heralded and each ‘new’ born member must be registered at the first Guild in their lifetime otherwise they lose the honour. Traditionally this was passed from father to son, but with equality the tradition was amended to include daughters (much to our relief )

While there is a registration fee, I think it was £50 in 2012, there are no specific privileges outside of the honour itself. I still get a parking ticket in the city centre, although I have yet to chance driving a flock of sheep down Fishergate to test the ancient statutes.