Mayor making in Bury

On Thursday I was lucky enough to be invited to attend the mayor making ceremony in Bury St Edmunds.

My good friend Robert Everitt, pictured above with his deputy, Patrick Chung, has been elected Mayor of the Borough for the current year.  Nick and I enjoyed making our way to the Apex to watch the ceremony.  It was a fine and sunny afternoon and the dignified procession and grand regalia reflected the historical importance of this ancient town.  We were reminded that next year will be the 800th anniversary of the signing of the Magna Carta,  The town of Bury had a pivotal role in this,  hosting what we would today call a 'pre-meeting' in 1214 at which barons vowed to enforce the charter on bad King John. The original Lincoln copy of the Charter is currently on display in the Cathedral.

In his speech Robert told a story about how he had recently visited a local school.  The children had been told that the  'Mayor of Bury'  elect would be visiting them.  The level of excitement was very high apparently, which Robert found hard to fathom.  It turned out however that the children had been expecting a visit from the celebrity TV chef Mary Berry, rather than a middle aged man in a suit!

I wish Robert the best of luck during his mayoral year.