Former Island Lord-Lieutenant Christopher Bland is set to join a group of individuals who have the honorary freedom of the Isle of Wight, an honour acknowledging success and achievement.

Mr Bland’s honorary Freedom will be awarded at the Full Council Meeting on the 15th October 2008 in the Council Chamber, County Hall, Newport.

The honour has been bestowed on only two others, record-breaking yachtswoman Dame Ellen MacArthur MBE and Oscar winning film director, the late Anthony Minghella CBE.

Isle of Wight Council Chairman Cllr Arthur Taylor said:

“The Isle of Wight Council would like to recognise Mr Bland’s dedicated service to the Island. He has significantly contributed to the Island’s economy through his cross-Solent travel company Hovertravel and has brought millions of visitors to the Island over the years and created many jobs. This is in addition to the 11 years he served as the Island’s Lord-Lieutenant.”

“Christopher Bland will be the third person to be honoured the freedom of the Isle of Wight, although the institution of freemen has been used by former Island boroughs and parish and town councils to recognise significant contributions to the local community, an example of this is the Newport Scout Group (The Old Guard) for their work within the community.”

The institution of freemen dates from the 12th century when freemen enjoyed considerable political privileges such as being entitled to elect the officers of the corporation and its representatives in Parliament.

The ability for freemen to be able to exercise political power was stopped in 1835 but 50 years later an act was passed enabling councils to confer honorary freemen with the consent of two-thirds of the council. Such freemen do not now have any financial or political advantages.