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The Plaque says it all.
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Allegiance to Mary Sumner personified
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I was rather taken aback to receive an Invitation to the service at St Martins in the Fields in London for the changing of the guard to our new WWP, Kathleen Snow, on March 24th. This came months before the event, and was organised through Eventbrite, very official! I was even emailed the YouTube version of the hymns so I could practice beforehand!
Return train tickets were bought well in advance, and, armed with all my entry paperwork I boarded the train.
I had wondered how I received an early invite, but it turned out that it was due to my work on the IT Committee overseeing the generation and implementation of the new IT solutions, including the membership database, the CRM system, and Mary Sumner House, for which I was considered a “VIP”!!!
A leisurely lunch in Covent Garden followed by a walk to St Martin’s in the Fields, thank you Google Maps on my phone, saw me arrive on the steps about 20 minutes before the doors opened. I found myself surrounded by the “Great and Good” of MU, and I busied myself introducing myself to people with badges, taking photos, particularly of their name tags, so I would remember who they were later.
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| York Province President – Christine Sharp and her husband John, who is Diocesan Finance Trustee |
The Queue forms under the portico of St Martins in the Fields
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I met up with Christine our Northern President, and her husband John, who holds a similar position in their Diocese as I do in Newcastle, and at the appointed time, we trooped in, being officially booked in. Others were being told sit anywhere but not in the front 5 rows. Christine and I were sent to meet an usher for the front 5 rows! We were directed to the Front Row! Gosh!
The service started with the International Trustees from all over the world sitting in an arc of chairs facing the congregation, the Ladies from the Africas and Asia looking wonderfully colourful.
What a wonderful building St Martins is, a magical setting for this wonderful occasion.
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Entrance to Crypt Café at St Martin’s
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Worldwide President Kathleen Snow with husband and brother |
The service was led by the Archbishop of York, and very much took the form of our own Commissioning service, with the ceremonial part, where Kathleen Snow was presented with the Badge of Honour from her predecessor, there were speeches from the Bishop of Kathleen’s Diocese in Canada, and after the Communion, by Kathleen herself.
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The Swearing in of Immediate Past and Newly Confirmed Worldwide Presidents
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The Worldwide Trustees are sworn in.
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The service ended and those with an invite were directed to make our way to Mary Sumner House for a reception. Fortunately, John and Christine knew the way. For somebody who hasn’t worked in London since the 1990s, it was an experience walking past the Houses of Parliament, the restored Big Ben, then Church House, on the way from Westminster tube station.
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The Chapel in Mary Sumner House
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Finance Director - Richard
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A further chance to meet and greet. I finally met Kathleen, who I seem to know quite well despite only meeting over Zoom meetings.
I was asked by Richard, the Finance Director if I would join another Committee, one covering Risk and Audit, which I said I would once I had been able to pass on one of my Diocesan Jobs to someone else, of which more later.
As I was leaving, I was given a nice hug from President Kathleen, who said she was surprised how tall I am! The power of Zoom.
On leaving I found I had picked up the wrong person’s overcoat from the hooks, and embarrassed, I had to walk the walk of shame back to the main hall to retrieve my Coat!!!
Lynne, past President Emeritus, her husband, whose daughter is with our 1st Internet branch and I shared a taxi back to King’s Cross to end a most enjoyable if long day.
Julian
