The 375th Anniversary of the King's execution took place on Tuesday 30th January from 2 pm for 2:30 pm in the Chantry, St Mary’s and All Saints’ Church, hosted by Senior Vice-President Norman Broadfield.
Many dynasties represented at King Charles I Memorial in 2024
Our Senior Vice-President – a Norman – stood in for our President, John – a Plantagenet – who was in temporary exile in Morocco, on 30th January at the Memorial on the 375th anniversary of the execution of Charles I – a Stuart.
Junior Vice-President David Simons had acquired a print from a painting of Charles I and had it framed. This was placed on a stand in front of the congregation, and David has kindly donated the framed print for use at future 'Old Boys' events. Former President Arthur Miller led the service in the old school adjoining St Mary's Church. About a dozen members were in attendance. Arthur had produced an excellent order of service with a history of Charles's life, including his health issues and how he came to be king, on the reverse. The service started with a presentation and prayers followed by the reading, by Arthur, of Psalm 32 vv1–5, the theme of this psalm being sins, and the confession and forgiveness of sins. Your correspondent read Ecclesiasticus 2 vv12–18. This reading considers wisdom, madness and folly, and concludes that the same fate comes to each person in turn, whether wise or foolish. The Gospel passage, St Mark 6 vv1–6a, related the story of Jesus teaching in the synagogue.
In his address, Norman commented that, as he was the President-elect for 2024–2025, he would, in his official turn, be addressing us again next year. As a result, he had divided his address into two episodes and this was instalment number one! Norman described Charles's early life: how he was a sickly child, suffered from rickets and developed far more slowly than his siblings. As the second son, it was not his expectation to become king, but his glamorous brother, Henry Frederick, who was six years older, died in 1612; their sister Elizabeth left England the following year to marry Frederick V, a German prince. Suddenly, Charles had become heir apparent, and was temperamentally and physically unprepared for the role that he was to inherit. His upbringing had not helped him, either, coming, as he had, from a dysfunctional family. Norman concluded that the psychologist in him wondered whether the rather obstinate approach had come from his difficult family life. Charles was also not helped by his decision to marry Henrietta Maria of France, a Roman Catholic. On the positive side, Norman commented that, within a few years of his accession, Charles had transformed himself into a dignified, kingly figure, every bit as impressive as his counterparts on the continent. Where did it all go wrong, then? Episode two to follow next year!
The service continued with prayers, and then Norman laid the wreath in front of the print of Charles. After this, tea and biscuits were served. The old school building is a highly appropriate place to hold this event, as this was the site of the school when the Royal Charter was granted!
Richard Woolley, English Dynasties Correspondent