DAY THAT CHANGED THE WORLD

This article appears in today's Leicester Mercury:

Day that changed the world

Civic and community leaders have recalled where they were on the day that changed the world.

City mayor Peter Soulsby said: "I was at the gym in Leicester on the running machine. The TV was on with no sound, and the pictures of the twin towers came up on the screen. One by one the machines stopped, and everyone gathered round to watch as they realised this was not a film, but reality.

'What struck me most after the event was the sense of outrage, and the solidarity people felt with America and with the families and friends of those who had been killed. For us in Leicester it did have some positive outcomes. The establishment of a group of faith leaders – the Faith Leaders' Forum – was very welcome.

"It helped to remind us that community cohesion, as we call it now, isn't something any of us can take for granted."

Bishop of Leicester the Rt Rev Tim Stevens said the first he knew about 9/11 was through a phone call from his secretary.

He said: "The rest of the afternoon was spent being interviewed by the media. Within 48 hours there was an interfaith gathering in the city centre."

In the decade since then. he said great work had been done building up trust between the city's faith communities.

Jagdev Kaur Gill, chairman of the Leicester Sikh Centre, said: "My son called me and told me a plane had crashed into one of the World Trade Centre towers. I turned on the television to see the second plane crash.

She added: "At first I thought it was an accident but it was soon clear it was deliberate.

"It was not just an attack on America, it was an attack on the whole world.

"But I believe most people in Leicester condemned what happened and the communities have come closer since it happened. Hopefully, we will continue to work together."

Lord Mayor of Leicester Robert Wann said: "I was staying at my father's house in Cyprus and he called me into the lounge. We just sat glued to the television watching the horrific events unfold."We were just in shock. It was unbelievable."

But when he returned to Leicester he was struck by the atmosphere.He said: "There was a real sense of people coming together from all the communities to condemn terrorism. I believe Leicester people have grown to understand each other better since the attack and we must continue to co-operate to ensure that acts of terrorism are resisted."

Jashvant Chauhan, vice-president of the Hindu Shree Sanatan Mandir temple, consoled his daughter as her friend from university was on one of the planes that crashed into the towers.

Mr Chauhan said: "She rang me in tears telling me her American friend she met at university was on a flight from Boston which crashed into the tower.

"So it was a very personal tragedy for us. But I think the atrocity acted as a wake-up call for us all."

County council leader David Parsons said: "I remember the awful feeling of shock when the news came through but then the dawning realisation that it would have a long-lasting impact on international relations. I pay tribute to the Leicestershire servicemen and women who have served in Iraq and Afghanistan to keep us safe."

Council prayers face a High Court hearing

From today's Leicester Mercury:

Council prayers face a High Court hearing

A High Court date is expected to be set within weeks whether councils should say prayers before meetings.

The National Secular Society says it is concerned that many local councils start their meetings with Christian prayers.

Papers were lodged at the High Court last year for a judicial review. A hearing date is imminent.

Last month newly-elected city Lord Mayor Rob Wann decided to reintroduce prayers before monthly full council meetings after previous office-holder Colin Hall stopped the practice.

A Leicester City Council spokesperson said: "There is a long tradition of the sitting Lord Mayor choosing whether or not to have prayers at the start of a council meeting and that we see no reason why that should not continue."

A Leicestershire County Council spokesman said: "We're aware of the issues surrounding council prayers and for this reason, lead a short, multi-faith prayer before council meetings which was introduced in 1974."

A secular society spokesman said: "If some council members wish to pray, we think that should be a private matter for themselves and there is no problem with them doing so before council meetings."

Read this article, along with reader comments (and the opportunity to make your own) on the Leicester Mercury website: http://www.thisisleicestershire.co.uk/Council-prayers-face-High-Court-hearing/story-12723841-detail/story.html

Lord Mayor's service celebrates "all faiths"

From today's Leicester Mercury:

Lord Mayor's service celebrates "all faiths"

City's diverse religions highlighted at annual civic ceremony

By Tom Mack

The new Lord Mayor of Leicester put religion in the spotlight yesterday with a service that embraced all faiths.

During the civic service, held each year at Leicester Cathedral  to welcome the new Lord Mayor into his or her post, Robert Wann read a passage from the Bible, and past Lord Mayor Manjula Sood read a prayer that was relevant to all religions.

In his sermon, Bishop of Leicester the Rt Rev Tim Stevens described Leicester as a city where "temples, mosques and gurdwaras punctuate the skyline, reminding us of the sacred links and shared aspirations of tens of thousands of its citizens".

He concluded by asking for God's blessing for Councillor Wann's work. Speaking after the event, Coun Wann said: "I thought it was an excellent service and the readings were very poignant. I'd been looking forward to it for a long time."

The Sikh High Sheriff of Leicestershire, Resham Singh Sandu, also attended.

He said: "It was a service for all faiths and people are here from all faiths – that's what Leicester is all about."

He added that he was planning to start a new tradition of the High Sheriff also having an annual service at Leicester Cathedral, and hoped to have one in September this year.

Councillor Sood, who is the chairman of the Leicester Council of Faiths, said: "The service was very moving and meaningful for the city. It was nice to have something for all the different faiths.

"The civic service is about everyone being together."

During his year in office, Coun Wann will be assisted by his chaplain, Canon Barry Naylor, who led yesterday's service with the Dean of Leicester Cathedral, Vivienne Faull.

Among the congregation were Ken and Eileen Coulson, from Glenfield.

Mr Coulson, 91, said: "It was great. I've been to a lot of the civic services because I'm in the Royal Marines Association and it's a very nice event."

Mrs Coulson, 88, said: "It was excellent. It was a different service because it was for the whole city, not just the people who were in the cathedral."

The previous Lord Mayor, Colin Hall, did not attend the civic service held for him last year.

He also banned the saying of prayers before full council meetings because he said it was outdated, but Coun Wann has revived the tradition.

Read this article, along with reader comments (and the opportunity to make your own) on the Leicester Mercury website: http://www.thisisleicestershire.co.uk/news/Lord-Mayor-s-service-celebrates-faiths/article-3607069-detail/article.html

LEICESTER'S NEW LORD MAYOR PUTS PRAYERS BACK ON AGENDA AT COUNCIL'S MEETINGS

From today's Leicester Mercury:

Leicester's new Lord Mayor puts prayers back on agenda at council's meetings

By David Maclean, Political Correspondent

Prayers before Leicester City Council's monthly meetings are back on the agenda.

New Lord Mayor Rob Wann has revived the tradition of prayer before the city's main full council meeting.

A short prayer has been said at the start of the meetings since 1997, with a year's gap between 2005-06 when Mary Draycott was Lord Mayor.

However, Colin Hall, on taking up the role last May, said the practice was "outdated, unnecessary and intrusive" and would not continue during his year of office.

He selected Allan Hayes, a humanist, to be his chaplain during the civic year.

This week Coun Wann selected a religious chaplain – Canon Barry Naylor – for his term of office, and brought back prayer before meetings.

At Thursday's annual meeting councillors and guests were asked to rise for prayer, led by Canon Naylor, for the first time in 12 months.

Coun Wann said: "Each mayor can decide how to do things during their year of office and Colin Hall had every right to remove prayers during his term of office.

"However, I thought it was important to bring prayers back. It's a moment of reflection before council business.

"It's a recent tradition but one that could be lost if we're not careful. The history of the Lord Mayor's position goes back hundreds of years and I think it's important to respect the history that is tied to the role.

"It's for future Lord Mayors to decide whether they stick with tradition or make changes again."

Canon Naylor said: "Spirituality, in whatever form, plays a part in civic life.

"Even though the prayers will come from a Christian perspective I will be selecting prayers which people from all faiths can relate to.

"I have served as chaplain to Robert for the past year when he was deputy Lord Mayor, and I'm looking forward to the year ahead."

Last year, Mr Hall declined to attend the city cathedral service which traditionally welcomes Lord Mayors into the new role.

Coun Wann deputised last year and said he would be taking part in the service when it is held on Sunday.

He has adopted the Royal Anglian Regiment Benevolent Fund for Leicestershire as his charity during the Mayoral year.

It helps serving and former members of the regiment and their dependents who are in need.

He said: "Soldiers and their families deserve more support than they currently get and I hope my appeal helps provide some of this in Leicester.

"I've made sure that the money is ring-fenced for people in this area, because I've always believed that charity begins at home."

For more information on the appeal, visit: www.leicester.gov.uk/lordmayor