THE Wardens and Freemen of Malmesbury took their annual oath at a ceremony last Wednesday.
More than 260 townspeople now belong to the institution and there are four grades; commoner, landholder, assistant burgess and capital burgess. Commoners have to be married men, a householder and live within the boundaries of Malmesbury, or be a son or son-in-law of a commoner.
Sue Poole, clerk to the Freemen, said: "They are part of an historic association which has existed since the year 945. The oath involves swearing to do everything you can to uphold the ethos of the organisation."
Her husband John-Paul Poole said: "It is a privilege to be a warden because you belong to something that has endured for hundreds of years. I am proud of the good work we do for Malmesbury."
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