MA, BM BCh Oxf 1954, DM 1988; DPM Eng 1958; MSc Salford 1980; FRCPsych 1971; FFPHM 1989
Freeman was born in Salford on 4 August 1929, the son of a pharmacist. He was educated at Altrincham Grammar School and St John's College Oxford. After qualifying Freeman held junior positions at MRI, Withington Hospital Manchester, Bethlem Royal and Maudsley Hospitals. In 1961 Freeman was appointed consultant psychiatrist for Salford Hospital Group, and the same year for Springfield Hospital (later Prestwich Hospital). He was also honorary consultant for the City of Salford Health and Social Services Department and for the World Health Organisation. Freeman was honorary professor at the University of Salford and part time lecturer at the University of Manchester, where he was a member of the Board of Faculty of Medicine and an internal examiner. Freeman was honorary consultant to the National Association for Mental Health. He was editor of Mental Health and Community Psychiatry and published extensively on psychiatry. Freeman was elected honorary fellow of the Royal College of Psychiatrists in 1998 and was elected fellow of the Faculty of Public Health Medicine of the Royal College of Physicians in 1989.