Video: Dignitaries march through High Wycombe

12:13pm Sunday 27th January 2013 in News By James Nadal

 

MANY Mayors and dignitaries representing towns from across Buckinghamshire and beyond marched through High Wycome this morning.

Dressed in full ceremonial gear, with chains and traditional attire, the group took part in the annual civic service.

Chauhdry Shafique, the latest High Wycombe Mayor in a long list of over 500 stretching back to 1285, greeted guests at Wycombe District Council's offices in Queen Victoria Road from 9am.

He said: “It was a fantastic day and an excellent turnout, with so many dignitaries who had come.

"The service was done excellently by Jackie Lock and Reverend Hugh Ellis, it was brilliant, very well researched for the occasion.

"It was a wonderful opportunity for people to speak to each other and catch up.

"The theme of the service was really about social interfaith and the cultural side of the town and how proud we can be of the way we live in High Wycombe."
He said a visitor from China had been fascinated by the occasion.

The town crier’s bell signalled it was time for the dignitaries, who included Wycombe MP Steve Baker, Amersham Mayor Mimi Harker, High Wycombe Mayor elect Trevor Snaith, and Marlow Deputy Mayor Suzanne Brown, among others, to set off on the parade just before 10am.

They walked through the High Street and to the church for the traditional service.

 

Comments (7)

1:19pm Sun 27 Jan 13

J B Blackett says...

Who asked for a undemocratically appointed select gang of disreputable pompous devious mealy-mouthed politicians to march through High Wycombe town and flaunt themselves dressed in funny clothes ? Ego-tripping ? For whose benefit ?
.
Come on own up. Who really wanted that ?

.
Who asked for a undemocratically appointed select gang of disreputable pompous devious mealy-mouthed politicians to march through High Wycombe town and flaunt themselves dressed in funny clothes ? Ego-tripping ? For whose benefit ? . Come on own up. Who really wanted that ? . J B Blackett

6:11pm Sun 27 Jan 13

Voyeur says...

They are not undemocratically appointed.
.
In order to be the Mayor you have to be a Charter Trustee of the town and Charter Trustees are elected district councillors in town wards.
.
There are also some (not the majority) Honourary Burgesses who have given past service to the town and they are appointed.
They are not undemocratically appointed. . In order to be the Mayor you have to be a Charter Trustee of the town and Charter Trustees are elected district councillors in town wards. . There are also some (not the majority) Honourary Burgesses who have given past service to the town and they are appointed. Voyeur

9:54pm Sun 27 Jan 13

ivor says...

If I had known this march was taking place today I would have joined on the end carrying a 'Save our Hospital' placard high in the air above my head....
~
Have you read Ivor’s blog today? Click on the “BLOGS” link at the top of the page.
If I had known this march was taking place today I would have joined on the end carrying a 'Save our Hospital' placard high in the air above my head.... ~ Have you read Ivor’s blog today? Click on the “BLOGS” link at the top of the page. ivor

11:24pm Sun 27 Jan 13

J B Blackett says...

Voyeur wrote:
They are not undemocratically appointed.
.
In order to be the Mayor you have to be a Charter Trustee of the town and Charter Trustees are elected district councillors in town wards.
.
There are also some (not the majority) Honourary Burgesses who have given past service to the town and they are appointed.
It's merely a selection of self-selecting exclusive cliques. Democracy is badly served by preserving these exclusive pointless parades and little gangs. .
.
These ego-trips give them yet more opportunities to preen themselves in public and pat each other on the back (for totally unwarranted or other reasons). They were not voted for to perform these self-congratulatory charades
.
If that is denied, then there is no point in debating the issue.
[quote][p][bold]Voyeur[/bold] wrote: They are not undemocratically appointed. . In order to be the Mayor you have to be a Charter Trustee of the town and Charter Trustees are elected district councillors in town wards. . There are also some (not the majority) Honourary Burgesses who have given past service to the town and they are appointed.[/p][/quote]It's merely a selection of self-selecting exclusive cliques. Democracy is badly served by preserving these exclusive pointless parades and little gangs. . . These ego-trips give them yet more opportunities to preen themselves in public and pat each other on the back (for totally unwarranted or other reasons). They were not voted for to perform these self-congratulatory charades . If that is denied, then there is no point in debating the issue. J B Blackett

7:46am Mon 28 Jan 13

buser says...

Dare one ask who paid for the refreshments? Would it by any chance be us or did they have a quick whip round?
Dare one ask who paid for the refreshments? Would it by any chance be us or did they have a quick whip round? buser

7:22pm Mon 28 Jan 13

mickleman says...

J B Blackett wrote:
Voyeur wrote:
They are not undemocratically appointed.
.
In order to be the Mayor you have to be a Charter Trustee of the town and Charter Trustees are elected district councillors in town wards.
.
There are also some (not the majority) Honourary Burgesses who have given past service to the town and they are appointed.
It's merely a selection of self-selecting exclusive cliques. Democracy is badly served by preserving these exclusive pointless parades and little gangs. .
.
These ego-trips give them yet more opportunities to preen themselves in public and pat each other on the back (for totally unwarranted or other reasons). They were not voted for to perform these self-congratulatory charades
.
If that is denied, then there is no point in debating the issue.
Wycombe should be proud of its history and heritage. Easily ignored and once forgotten difficult to retrieve. The Charter Trustees are not self selecting, they are all 22 District Councillors elected to represent the unparished wards of the town, i.e. those that made up the old Wycombe Borough until that was abolished in 1974. Their responsibilities include maintaining the town's Charters, one of which goes back to 1207, until a Parish council is established. I would rather all Charter Trustees acknowledged the town's history and tradition and attended the four civic services held annually. The town has a long history to be proud of and to be celebrated and it isn't asking much of our elected representatives to attend these four civic functions.
[quote][p][bold]J B Blackett[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]Voyeur[/bold] wrote: They are not undemocratically appointed. . In order to be the Mayor you have to be a Charter Trustee of the town and Charter Trustees are elected district councillors in town wards. . There are also some (not the majority) Honourary Burgesses who have given past service to the town and they are appointed.[/p][/quote]It's merely a selection of self-selecting exclusive cliques. Democracy is badly served by preserving these exclusive pointless parades and little gangs. . . These ego-trips give them yet more opportunities to preen themselves in public and pat each other on the back (for totally unwarranted or other reasons). They were not voted for to perform these self-congratulatory charades . If that is denied, then there is no point in debating the issue.[/p][/quote]Wycombe should be proud of its history and heritage. Easily ignored and once forgotten difficult to retrieve. The Charter Trustees are not self selecting, they are all 22 District Councillors elected to represent the unparished wards of the town, i.e. those that made up the old Wycombe Borough until that was abolished in 1974. Their responsibilities include maintaining the town's Charters, one of which goes back to 1207, until a Parish council is established. I would rather all Charter Trustees acknowledged the town's history and tradition and attended the four civic services held annually. The town has a long history to be proud of and to be celebrated and it isn't asking much of our elected representatives to attend these four civic functions. mickleman

6:40pm Fri 1 Feb 13

J B Blackett says...

As I said - these dressed up people are unelected by the public.
.
And as for being proud , back in 1247 , the people in power were proud of serfdom , enslavement torture and having the power of life and death over the starving peasants. Read some English local history
.
It took nearly a 1000 years to throw off the chains of introduced enforced slavery , malicious misrule and power tussles in this country - well after slaves were 'freed' in other countries. .
So , in spite of their apparent 'quaintness' , these ancient ceremonies still show the vestiges of that self-preening bigotry, cruelty and misbehaviour of the self-appointed gangs.
.
Then and now still telling the common people to know their place .
As I said - these dressed up people are unelected by the public. . And as for being proud , back in 1247 , the people in power were proud of serfdom , enslavement torture and having the power of life and death over the starving peasants. Read some English local history . It took nearly a 1000 years to throw off the chains of introduced enforced slavery , malicious misrule and power tussles in this country - well after slaves were 'freed' in other countries. . So , in spite of their apparent 'quaintness' , these ancient ceremonies still show the vestiges of that self-preening bigotry, cruelty and misbehaviour of the self-appointed gangs. . Then and now still telling the common people to know their place . J B Blackett

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