The 363rd Anniversary of the King's execution took place on Monday 30th January from 2 pm for 2:30 pm in the King Charles I Room, Kidderminster Town Hall, hosted by President Andrew Moule.
Kidderminster's Mayoress, Cllr Ann Hingley, welcomed a gathering of Old Carolians to the wreath-laying at the portrait of King Charles in the room named after him in the Town Hall.
For the benefit of those that have never ascended the magnificent carpeted stairs up to the King Charles Room, it is well worth a brief description. As you climb, you see large paintings of former Mayors of Kidderminster, and at the top of the stairs is a wooden settle belonging to the family of Richard Baxter, dated 1615, and carved with their initials. To the left are several wall-mounted glass cases containing Kidderminster charters. One is the 1586 charter granted by Queen Elizabeth I and which reinforces the Kidderminster Domesday Book entry of 1086, the 500th Anniversary. Next to it is a copy of Charles I's 1640 ordinances, which lists the various trades of the Borough of Kidderminster, the unions of tailors, weavers, smiths and shoemakers. It also particularly lists the numbers involved in the cloth trade. Then, next to this is a copy of the 1827 charter, one of only three granted in the reign of George IV. The charter grants the town an increase in the number of magistrates from three to six, and creates aldermen and councillors from the previous burgesses. There is an indication that Kidderminster folk were not impressed with the £1500 cost of the charter, but the town leaders ignored this and celebrated with dinner at the Lion Hotel. Strangely, as you look around the landing for other documents, you see a rather old fashioned muddy bicycle, leaning against the wall. It is covered with clothing that the rider has obviously removed, with a cycling helmet and lock. It has to be said that this is a bizarre sight, but no one has indicated that it is in any way a famous antiquity of Kidderminster. Perhaps an Old Carolian rode to the Town Hall on it and parked it outside the King Charles Room rather than risk leaving it outside.
At the appointed time of 2:30 pm, Canon Owain Bell welcomed the Mayoress, Old Carolians Association President Andy Moule and fellow Old Carolians to the ceremony. He talked in particular about the actual beheading of the King outside the Banqueting Hall in Whitehall and noted that writers at the time commented on the King's courage. He quoted the famous speech from Shakespeare's Macbeth: 'Nothing in his life became him like the leaving it. He died as one that had been studied in his death to throw away the dearest thing he owed – as 'twere a careless trifle.' Canon Bell also reminded us of Charles's last words: 'I go from a corruptible to an incorruptible Crown'.
Andy Moule also reminded us of the famous actors and actresses that had portrayed monarchs in films over the decades. He particularly mentioned the reigns of Henry VIII and Elizabeth I, and said that only two actors had been filmed as Charles I: Sir Alec Guinness had famously portrayed Charles in the film 'Cromwell' as a dignified, devout and courageous family man, while in the other film, 'To Kill a King', Rupert Everett had portrayed him as a stubborn, dictatorial bigot. The cavaliers amongst us were in no doubt which artistic portrayal and interpretation we preferred.
Following Andy's address, he placed the wreath underneath the portrait; there were short prayers at the end of the ceremony; and the friendly gathering adjourned for very welcome tea and biscuits.
'Captain' Peter Vaughan, World Affairs Correspondent