The Rt. Hon. Bernard Weatherill

Bernard Weatherill, MP for Croydon North East since 1964, became the 134th Speaker of the House of Commons from 1983-1992.  He was given the freedom of the Borough in 1983 and became the 33rd Freeman of Croydon in the borough's 100-year history.    Already a Freeman of the City of London, he was the first sitting MP to be honoured in this way in Croydon.

The resolution granting him the freedom of the borough was proposed by the Croydon's Conservative majority at the time and seconded by Labour opposition.  It stated the honour was awarded "in recognition of Mr. Weatherill's high office, his distinguished services to the House of Commons and his eminent services to the Borough.  The Honorary Freedom of the Boroughs Act, through which Mr. Weatherill attained his high honour, came into being just two years after Croydon received its charter in 1883.