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Michael Hales awarded Freedom of the City of London

Michael Hales, LACA vice chair elect and managing director of Juniper Ventures
Michael Hales, LACA vice chair elect and managing director of Juniper Ventures
25 Apr 2024
Michael Hales, LACA vice chair elect and managing director of Juniper Ventures, was awarded The Freedom of the City of London in recognition for his 35 years feeding schoolchildren.

During this time he has been responsible for some 220 million school meals served. He was previously LACA chair from 2019 to 2020.

He is managing director of Juniper Ventures, the ‘externalised business’ set up by the London Borough of Newham to deliver catering and cleaning services for the council’s schools and civic venues.

The Freedom of the City is an honour bestowed by a municipality upon a valued member of the community, or upon a visiting celebrity or dignitary.

Commenting on the news, Michael said: “I was extremely humbled to be admitted as a Freeman of the City of London in recognition of my 35 years and c220m hot, healthy and nutritious school meals in some of the most deprived areas of the country. 

“The admission of freeman records go back to 1237 and the most common question I have been asked is about sheep – so yes I can heard sheep over the bridge, this year on 29th September as part of the Sheep Drive and Livery Fair.”