A Particular Celebration

Hornington has few claims to notoriety: one of them is that it acquired electrical street-lighting unusually early, though most of the time when this is mentioned the fact that it only lasted about ten years before the town returned to gas gets omitted. Anyway, when most of the country was lighting beacons for the Queen's Jubilee, Hornington decided instead to turn on an environmentally-efficient electric light mounted on the side of the Market House. 

There is no need to involve Christian clergy in these sorts of events, so I consider it a huge privilege that I was asked. I walked alongside the Mayor (who is a Green councillor and a republican), and ahead of her husband (ditto) and the Deputy Mayor (a Lib Dem councillor and a republican) and hers (ditto). Behind us were the other councillors; ahead, the Town Band and the Air Cadets bearing the Union Flag, and RAF Sergeant Tina who, in lieu of the vacationing mace-bearer, carried the silver symbol of Mayoral authority. I gather that just before we set off the nearest Band members asked the Cadets, in a whisper, whether they knew what anyone was supposed to be doing. 'Just walk to the Market House', answered the standard-bearer. In fact, they didn't know either, but they always give a good impression of doing so.

Of course we gave thanks for 'the lifelong service of our sovereign lady Queen Elizabeth', but also for all those who served during the pandemic and really every act of service and dedication in the community which, I said, were our light in times of sickness, war, and want. And the light was successfully switched on. It was all celebratory and strangely tongue-in-cheek as well. We all knew it was both good and right and proper and yet a bit daft as well. You can't get more British than a group of non-Royalists all giving a hearty three cheers for Her Maj. Is this because she has outlived any sense of outrage at her position - that it hardly seems worth protesting at the position of someone who - whatever else happens - has little time left to her in this earthly realm? Our Hornington celebration was about us all, as much as her, and it is not a bad thing that we can hang from this one individual our sense of solidarity and care, and practice our charity towards one another. How different things will be when she is gone.