Council and mayor should be applauded

The event I attended, the awarding of the Freedom of Warwick, began in Warwick Castle courtyard where over 1,000 people watched and applauded as the soldiers marched in, bands playing.

The ceremony lasted approximately an hour, as 200 servicemen and woman received the honour, and the wonderful military bands played throughout.

The Mayor, Councillor Trudy Offer had the honour of presenting this award, which she said in her speech was the proudest moment of her mayoral year.

Yes it would have been good if even more people attended, but the town council had done all it could to advertise the event. When the military marched out of the Castle through the arch to meet the small number of onlookers as described in the letter from Ms Sutcliffe, unless she imagined all of us running past the soldiers to get to the gate first I cannot see how anything different could have happened.

Most people moved from the Castle grounds to join those in Jury Street and Church Street. I stood in Jury Street with many others as they marched past and we all cheered and waved flags.

As for the Mayor’s shoes, I have seen her wearing these shoes on many official military occasions. She has and continues to receive positive feedback from military staff including that from the Lord Lieutenant, Brigadier, Lieutenant Colonel, Colonel and many of the rank and file and wives and most of the general public. Whenever she wears them they bring a smile to the men’s faces as they are taken as a mark of respect which is what they are meant to be. The “flag” does not touch the floor, the soles do. The “flag” is a facsimile with a big red heart in the middle. The mayor has had nothing but support on this since Judith Sutcliffe started publicising her opinion in such a way.

This was a very proud event for Warwick town, and for our mayor and town council. Far from “spoiling” the event her shoes added to the respect we all felt and demonstrated on the day. I for one and I know I speak for many others, applaud our mayor for her choice of attire and congratulate all parties for the planning and execution of such a special day. - Jenny Drake, Arlescote Close, Hatton Park, Warwick.