The Chairman Writes

Author: Howard Crapper

What a tumultuous few weeks we have witnessed. The Queen was poorly but she always recovered. And then the family started to arrive quite suddenly at Balmoral and looking forlorn. A few hours later and we heard the devastating news of our Queen had indeed passed away. It was unreal as we had seen her greeting the new Prime Minister only the day before. The Union flag was lowered over Buckingham Palace and the Queens Coffin arrived back in London some three days later. It has been said the Queen died of a broken heart following the death of her beloved Philip. It was here the sea of flowers and tributes continued to arrive. After a few days, the flowers were moved on a daily basis, a half mile, to Green Park and laid out in beautiful designs.

The Queen laying in State is something I shall never forget. The tableau scene which greeted the 250,000 people in the vast queue was overwhelming. The guards changed over every 20 minutes to the sound of sword on stone but otherwise the huge historic hammerbeam hall was silent.

The televised funeral at Westminster Abbey attracted an audience of over twenty million people and what amazing pictures of Grenadier Guards, Bagpipes and massed bands of all regimental varieties and precision marching a route through London of over six miles. The boom of the drum beat kept everyone up to speed and the minute cannon blast reminded all of the task ahead.

The Choral music at both Westminster and St Georges Chapel was truly amazing and uplifting.

World leaders flew into London from every corner of the earth. A tribute to our Queen who had the skills to bring everyone together. Her sparkling blue eyes, peaches and cream complexion, that wide smile and brilliant sense of humour. We were so honoured to have had her reign over eight decades. We knew no one else but now “ Long live the King “.

King Charles the third has had a life time of apprenticeship and I have high hopes for the future. I will forever remember Her Majesty’s trusted pony standing beside road as the procession passed by and the Pony doing what can only be described as a curtsey. Quite extraordinary.

The initial Proclamation was held at St James Palace but subsequent local centres for Proclamation included Carfax in Oxford. I was unable to attend personally but pleased to report that the Oxford Freemen were represented.

Covid restrictions have lifted sufficiently in recent months to allow a plan for an Admission Ceremony in the Town Hall on Thursday November 24th.

The Freemen Committee have been working hard of late to arrange our Annual Dinner on Saturday 10th December. I am pleased to announce that we will be celebrating on Port Meadow! Alison and Steve Cobb are generously providing Canapés and drinks from 7 pm at their home known as Great Leys in Binsey Lane. Now, Binsey Lane is off Botley Road and commences just east of Waitrose Supermarket.

The venue is about one mile up this road on the left. It would be beneficial to park in the Perch Car Park and walk back the hundred yards. Sat Nav postcode is OX2 0NG. A raffle will be held and raffle prizes will be gratefully received on the night. Thank you for this. Our guest speaker will be the Meadow Ranger, Mr Julian Cooper, who will give us his latest update.

You may recall this years round-up was brought forward in a hurry because the grass had vanished and was replaced by a dust bowl after the extreme summer sun.

I am pleased to welcome John Sanders back as leader of our Annual Oxford Apprentice Awards Scheme. Covid interrupted the previous two years but we are now planning for Spring 23 and enquiries welcome for those under Apprenticeship in the City. There is a monetary prize on top of the excellent kudos.

After twenty years as your grateful Chairman, I am considering stepping down. The years just fly away and I would be pleased to hear from you in order to join the Committee. We meet three or four times a year on a Thursday evening in the Town Hall. We are always looking for a variety of skills. We communicate by email.

We were devastated to learn of the sad passing of out Hon. Secretary from Cancer. Stephen Ewens was being treated for Long Covid when the worst was diagnosed. We send his wife Ann and family our most sincere condolences. It was such a shock and we miss him so much. Both his children have been admitted as Freemen.