The 367th 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 Ken Ryder.
There was a large gathering in the King Charles Room this year. One could not help noticing that there were more cameras on display among the guests than would normally be found in a coach-load of Japanese tourists at Stratford. And they were 'real' cameras, too, not of the usual iPhone or tablet variety. The reason for this was quickly apparent. President Ken Ryder introduced the guests and welcomed them to the ceremony: the Mayor of Kidderminster, Cllr Rose Bishop; the Deputy Mayor, Cllr Mary Rayner; and the Mayor's Consort, Michael Price. Sunglasses were needed for the shiny gold chains of office on display. It was also very pleasing to see once again the recently retired vicar of St Mary's Church, Canon Owain Bell.
Owain began with the Collect Prayer for King Charles from the Prayer Book. He had been a vicar in Kidderminster for 16 years at St Mary's, but had only missed two King Charles ceremonies in the Town Hall. He had discovered a new angle to guide his speech this year, and it involved his close friend Prof James Robinson, who was born in Kidderminster, a pupil at King Charles under John Drake and now aged 92 living in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Prof Robinson still has an enormous affection for Kidderminster and for King Charles. During the war, he had been a pilot in Canada, and then a Scientific Officer in the Civil Service. He had moved to Louisiana and was now Professor Emeritus at Louisiana State University after a scientific career with Esso. He has edited scientific journals and written books, some of which are now standard text books on atomic spectroscopy. He has been credited with discoveries concerning lead in petrol, acid rain and with brain research. Mightily impressive, then – a former King Charles I School boy, who is a top scientist in the USA with an international reputation. Years ago, Prof Robinson had purchased a large Royal Doulton figurine of King Charles I, obviously crafted from the Van Dyke portrait, and it was this that he wished to gift to his hometown, and to rest for ever in the King Charles Room.
In his speech, President Ken Ryder thanked Owain and then Charlie Combes for pointing out that it was the 450th year of the School's foundation. Charlie had spent fifty of those years as a teacher at King Charles and, as a very young man, he had attended the ceremony to celebrate the 400th Anniversary. He remembered a splendid evening with Tatton Brinton, Jim Charlton and Tom Hardwick. Ken mentioned that he had recently read a new book on the King's execution, called 'The Killers of the King' by Charles Spencer. Gory details in the book had fascinated Ken – the fact that Charles' head had been sewn back onto his body before being placed in a lead coffin, and that King Charles II had scoured the country, hunting down his father's killers. Thomas Harrison, the King's jailor, was garrotted, his genitals cut off and thrown in a bucket, and he was then disembowelled. Somehow, in his death throes, he had punched his executioner. Oliver Cromwell, too, was dis-interred after two years and ritually executed.
As we all digested the awful realities of the 17th century, Ken laid the Old Carolian wreath underneath the King's portrait, alongside the Royal Doulton figurine.
'Captain' Peter Vaughan, Chief Reporter