Signed, Sealed and finally delivered
Stevie Wonder receives his Freedom of the City scroll thanks to a wee small hours visit from a determined group of Geordies
More than two years after he was officially granted Newcastle’s highest honour, Stevie Wonder has finally received the Freedom of the City - not in a grand civic ceremony, but in a quiet hotel lobby in the early hours of the morning, following a headline performance in London’s Hyde Park.
The moment was the result of weeks of gentle plotting and decades of connection, orchestrated by Geordie TV exec Malcolm Gerrie, who has worked with music icon on numerous occasions over the past 40 years.
“It was just one of those extraordinary moments,” said Malcolm.
“We were sat in this plush London hotel, almost ready to give up. It was late, the show was over, security was tight, and Stevie was nowhere to be seen. And then the lift doors opened… and out walked Stevie, with his minder and Keith Harris. He came straight over, sat down, and we just talked…. I didn’t get home ‘til about 4am!”
Wonder, now 75, had been awarded the Freedom of Newcastle in March 2023 in recognition of his campaign to establish Martin Luther King Day in the United States and his lifelong work for social justice.
But although the award was unanimously supported by the council, Wonder had been unable to attend the formal presentation.
Determined to ensure the honour was delivered, Northern Roots - the Newcastle-based music charity and promoter - enlisted Malcolm, along with Stevie’s UK manager Keith Harris (another Newcastle-born fella), to make it happen.
When Steve arrived in the UK for his Hyde Park show, Malcolm made a “cheeky” request to meet him.
“I thought I’d try my luck,” he said. “Keith said, ‘Look, he knows you, he likes you, so if anyone’s going to explain the significance of this, it should be you.’ Stevie was being pulled in every direction that day. I waited around for hours - backstage, catering, out with the crowd - just hoping we’d get five minutes. Eventually Keith said, ‘Come to the hotel after the show, and we’ll see what happens.’”
Meanwhile the Northern Roots team - including Adam Collerton, emerging artist Georgia May, and videographer ABZ - were en route to be on the ground if things turned out the way they hoped.
By the early hours, the group was huddled in the hotel lobby, scroll and braille transcript in hand… just as they were about to call it a night, Stevie appeared.
“He was incredible,” said Georgia May, who presented the scroll on behalf of the city.
“The build-up was strange as we were waiting around in the hotel not really knowing if we would actually catch him. Then his manager came down and he was there just having a little chillax after the gig.
“I was very nervous and shaking - but he has a very gentle nature and is so kind. It made me feel at ease.
“He gave a lot of profound and insightful advice and reiterated his humanitarianism. It was just really touching because he was so moved as well. It was an honour to represent Northern Roots and the city council in handing over the award, and to be in the presence of such greatness was humbling and inspirational.
“For me it was a huge opportunity to connect with an idol and inspiration to so many people.”
As well as speaking at length about his views on the state of the world and his hopes for peace, the 75-year-old also talked of his enduring admiration for figures like Martin Luther King and John Lennon - whose song Imagine he had performed just hours earlier.
“He talked and talked,” said Malcolm At one point Keith was doing the cutthroat signal behind him - like, ‘That’s enough now, Malcolm, he’s got to sleep!’ But Stevie has no sense of night or day. He just wanted to talk. It was like stepping into history.”
The meeting capped off a remarkable journey for Northern Roots, who first nominated Wonder for the honour through Adam Collerton and Kema Kay, with support from then-Lord Mayor Cllr Karen Robinson. The motion was proposed by Cllr David Wood and seconded by Cllr Gerry Keating, receiving unanimous backing.
Malcolm, best known for his work on The Tube, The White Room, and the BRIT Awards, had previously persuaded Stevie to fly in and perform at the Brits, even convincing him to reprise his iconic harmonica solo on a live performance of Eurythmics’ There Must Be an Angel after the band had been presented with a lifetime contribution award.
“We’ve always got on,” he said. “That connection made all the difference.”
For Georgia, who came through the Northern Roots mentoring programme and is now carving out her own career as a musician, the moment was both personal and symbolic.
“To be able to hand Stevie Wonder the Freedom of Newcastle on behalf of the city that raised me… it’s hard to put into words. He’s inspired generations of artists - and not just through his music, but through his humanity.”
The framed scroll and braille letter were finally, and joyfully, delivered. Photos were taken. Smiles shared.
“It was a small, intimate moment,” said Gerrie. “But it meant the world - to Stevie, and to us.”