The Wiltshire Rule of Law Service and Choral Evensong, Sunday 12th March 2023 and meeting an old friend of Malmesbury, Phil Harding from the Time Team and Wessex Archaeology.
An historic Service and Choral Evensong took place at Salisbury Cathedral on Sunday 12th March, being The Wiltshire Rule of Law. The Mayor of Malmesbury, Cllr. Kim Power attended along with her Consort Cllr. Catherine Doody and the Malmesbury Town Clerk, Claire Mann, in company with others from the breadth of Wiltshire. Representing the oldest borough of Malmesbury, the Mayor and Town Clerk took part in a large procession from the Guildhall to the Cathedral, with many other distinguished guests.
The Service highlighted the last year’s work of the High Sheriff of Wiltshire, The Marchioness of Bowood, whose theme has been ‘Home’.
Malmesbury Mayor, Cllr.Kim Power stated:
“ We have been privileged to attend this Service and to reflect on the High Sheriff’s year and her theme of ‘home’. We were also honoured to have received visits in Malmesbury from Lady Lansdowne, the High Sheriff of Wiltshire during the last year. I am particularly proud that she awarded a High Sheriff’s Award to one of Malmesbury’s younger residents, Ben Thornbury, only two months ago.”
After the ceremony, the Mayor spoke with an old acquaintance of Malmesbury, Phil Harding from Channel 4’s Time Team. He currently holds the Office of one of the Deputy Lieutenants of Wiltshire. Phil was meant to pay a visit to Malmesbury in May 2020 to celebrate St. Aldhelm’s Day, however due to the pandemic and lockdown, this could not happen. So, Malmesbury went online with the celebrations and Phil produced a wonderful and interesting Q & A Malmesbury Session, which was livestreamed on Facebook and is available on Malmesbury Town Council’s Youtube Channel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wApq4WpvMQA Hugely informative, Phil expresses himself in his own inimitable style, which everyone loves.
Malmesbury Mayor, Cllr.Kim Power stated:
“After the Rule of Law Service, I saw Phil across the crowd of wigs, robes and pageantry and recalled how very kind he had been to record a Malmesbury Q & A for us during the lockdown and so headed straight for him. In a 2020 video, speaking from what looks to be his attic office, he brought his lovely warmth and his original charm to folks, during not such great times. He told us how he had become an archaeologist and then talked about his specialist interest in prehistory, and not forgetting he did answer some questions about Malmesbury. At the Rule of Law Service, I reminded him of this video and told him that in 2023, there had been nearly 64,000 views, which is phenomenal! I think I can safely say he was both amazed and delighted at the same time. He is a true national treasure and it was very much a pleasure to meet him! ”
Photo attached – “Left to Right... Cllr. Catherine Doody, Mayor’s Consort, Town Clerk Claire Mann, Phil Harding and Mayor of Malmesbury, Cllr. Kim Power”
