Hyde restaurant boss receives the Freedom of the City of London

A Hyde restaurant owner has been awarded the Freedom of the City of London for his contributions to charity and journalism.

Mizanur Rahman Mizan, owner of Adnans restaurant in Hyde, was a former international hockey player for his country, Bangladesh, before coming to Manchester and starting a successful catering career. 

In 2007, he started the Just Help Foundation, which aimed to assist those in need both here in Manchester and Sylhet, the part of Bangladesh where he was born.

He has also been involved in journalism with electronic media for the past 25 years. From 1999 to 2007, he contributed significantly to Bangla TV and then to Channel S, broadcasting news about the Bangladeshi community. 

Now he has been awarded the Freedom of the City of London, an honour first established in the 13th century.

He said: "I am grateful to the Great Creator. God has given me the opportunity to work for humanity.

"I sincerely thank the person who nominated me for this award. I also thank my family members, friends, well-wishers, and all the communities in Britain and Europe.

"Without your support, it would not have been possible to advance the Just Help Foundation this far. As long as God keeps me in good health, I will continue to work in the service of humanity." 

The medieval term 'freeman' meant someone who was not the property of a feudal lord but enjoyed privileges such as the right to earn money and own land. Town dwellers who were protected by the charter of their town or city were often free – hence the term 'freedom' of the City.

From the Middle Ages and the Victorian era, the Freedom was the right to trade, enabling members of a Guild or Livery to carry out their trade or craft in the Square Mile.

The honour has been given to Queen Elizabeth II, Winston Churchill and Florence Nightingale.