The 361st Anniversary of the King's execution took place on Saturday 30th January from 2 pm for 2:30 pm in the King Charles I Room, Kidderminster Town Hall, hosted by President Pat Yarnold.
It was a very cold day when, at 2:30 pm, a tough band of OCs gathered in the Town Hall to watch Association President Pat Yarnold lay a wreath to commemorate the 361st anniversary of the King's execution in Whitehall.
In the short service in front of the King's portrait, Canon Owain Bell welcomed everyone, then read from a letter of Charles to his son before the execution. Charles urged the future King to be a pious and good monarch, with respect for the people, rather than concentrating on attempting to become great. Despite his many faults, Charles was a devout Christian and a decent human being who showed considerable courage at his execution. He was not a St Francis or a St Thomas Aquinas, but even his enemies recorded their admiration at his bearing that day. Canon Bell ended his speech with prayers for Kidderminster, for King Charles, for the Old Carolians Association and for the school.
Pat Yarnold said that, as an art teacher, he was particularly impressed with King Charles's love of art, his relationship with Van Dyke and other artists, and the manner in which he built up the greatest art collection in Europe at that time. Reading a biography of Charles had given Pat some new perspectives on the man and the monarch. It had certainly reinforced the importance of Charles in granting charters to the town and the school. Pat ended his speech with a reading, and remarked that the execution in 1649 had been delayed from 9 am until 2:30 pm so that Parliament could rush through three readings of a Bill to ensure that the future Charles II could not assume power upon his father's death.
After the formal proceedings, the Deputy Mayor, Cllr Jeff Baker, invited all present to meet in the Mayor's Parlour for light refreshments and a traditional celebratory glass – a very welcome gesture on such a cold day.
Words: 'Captain' Peter Vaughan
Photos: Martin Humphries