‘What an honour’ – Adam Henson reflects on Woolmen’s Sheep Drive 2025

Mr Henson was accompanied by the master woolman David Hopkins, the Lord Mayor of the City of London Alastair King and aldermen and sheriffs as he headed south over Southwark Bridge. 

The event, the biggest in its 13-year history, has seen Freemen retrace the steps of ancestors from 400 years ago. There are many rights which come with being a Freemen, but perhaps the most famous is the right to drive sheep and cattle over the River Thames toll-free. 

Nowadays, the event raises thousands of pounds for charity, with funds going to support young farmers and innovations in wool, through the Woolmen’s Charity, with a significant donation also made to the Lord Mayor Appeal.  

There is also a thriving Livery Fair, which saw more than 40 stalls showcasing wool products, handcrafted items and the ancient crafts of Livery Companies such as the Wheelwrights and the Basketweavers. 

The wool month

Once again rare breeds were on display, courtesy of Spitalfields City Farm and the Woodlands Farm Trust, whilst sheep-shearing demonstrations showcased the ancient art of blade-shearing.  

The organisers were also joined by Ruskin Mill Trust, which supports students with special educational needs to learn heritage skills such as weaving and spinning. 

The 2025 event was a record-breaking one, with more Drives, more Freemen, more stallholders and more visitors than ever before. It has long been the second largest event in the City after the Lord Mayor’s Parade, the organisers confirmed.  

October is wool month, celebrating its 15th year and with HM King Charles III as its patron.  

‘Huge honour’

Countryfile presenter and Cotswold farmer Adam Henson said: “When the Worshipful Company of Woolmen invited me to be a Freeman of London and drive the sheep across the bridge, I thought, ‘Why me?’ but what a huge honour and how exciting. And to be here today carrying out this tradition was such a treat.  

“Celebrating British wool, celebrating British agriculture, bringing sheep to the City, telling that farming story is what I am all about, and I absolutely loved it. I absolutely loved it and am really, really proud to be part of it.”  

Master Woolman David Hopkins added that it is important for London to preserve the tradition which Freemen enjoyed of being able to walk their sheep across the bridge free of charge.  

“Being a Freeman in those days meant you had the licence to trade in London, and that was very important. One of the things we’re trying to do in the Woolmen’s Charity is create innovative uses for wool and also to educate people about the benefits of this wonderful fibre and how it totally biodegrades, unlike synthetic fibres, which can take hundreds of years to disintegrate. It is becoming increasingly important.  

“Hundreds of years ago wool was a staple of the economy. At the House of Lords there’s the woolsack, which King Edward III decreed his Lord Chancellor should sit on, and it’s remained there ever since. Wool declined with the advent of synthetic fibres, but we’re working hard now to put it back on the map, and demand for wool is increasing; demand is growing.   

“The charitable side of this event is also hugely important; in 2024 Livery Companies contributed £81 million to charity, with more than £30 million of that going to support young people in their living and education. That’s a significant sum,” Mr Hopkins concluded.  

The sheep are North of England mules and are brought to the event by Bedfordshire farmers David and Barbara Seamark.   

Planning is already underway for the 2026 event, which is expected to be held on the 27th September.  

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