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Tag Archives: Westminster Abbey
Tomorrow's hymns for the Royal Wedding
Love divine, all loves excelling
Guide me thou O great redeemer
Jerusalem
The Shibley's Speech
Here is the official trailer of “The King’s Speech”.
This film tells the story of the man who became King George VI, the father of Queen Elizabeth II. After his brother abdicates, George (‘Bertie’) reluctantly assumes the throne. Plagued by a dreaded stammer and considered unfit to be king, Bertie engages the help of an unorthodox speech therapist named Lionel Logue. Through a set of unexpected techniques, and as a result of an unlikely friendship, Bertie is able to find his voice and boldly lead the country
I watched this film over about two hours yesterday afternoon at Swiss Cottage Odeon cinema. It was the first time I had felt relaxed in ages. People with my background and make-up have found it difficult to unwind in the past, but I now feel very much at ease with myself. Ever since my two month coma with meningitis in 2007, I have had an odd speech. It has a nasal quality. This could be because I spent so long unconscious, or that I had to have an emergency tracheostomy. Like Prince George, I had speech and language therapy, but the feeling of powerlessness that I received from the film is something I very much relate to. My confidence has now grown such that I personally don’t feel so self-consious about my speech, which is probably a good thing as I hope to convey style over substance in my ambition to become a successful corporate lawyer. I will have to overcome the interview stage with strangers first, which, like the situation in “The King’s Speech”, does make my speech problems worse for inexplicable reasons.
I am not normally a ‘fan’ of Colin Firth, but I think he – like the whole film – was outstanding. Secondly, the school chapel of the school which both I and Helena Bonham-Carter attended, the magnificent Westminster Abbey, really did look good glorious in the film and did bring back extremely happy memories of when I was a Queen’s Scholar at Westminster. I remember doing the walk from the West Gate to where the Coronation Chair would have been many times as a schoolboy. And, of course, during Coronations, it is the Queen’s Scholars of Westminster School who announce, “Vivat!” as soon as the new monarch is crowned.
Two things are memorable for me from the film. Firstly, you do not need loads of qualifications and ‘credentials’ to make a big difference to people. Secondly, life often is about living with a disability (I am also physically disabled with minor walking and balance problems only now), but being at terms with your handicap such that you can attempt to live your life to the full. A positive attitude is vital for me to do this after all I’ve been through.
Here are some of my favourite still photos from the film.
He who without sin…
There’s a part of human nature who wishes to see Andy Coulson, in a non-Christian way. That is, they begrudge him being paid £140,000 in his current salaried position when it is alleged that his team have attempted to ruin people’s lives (people including policemen and politicians, responsible people who are trying their best to serve the country). However, it is worth remembering the old Christian teaching regarding sin and the first stone. Likewise, with all the attention on the scandals within the Catholic church, it is important to remember that it is dangerous for any of us to point the finger, as a large part of the teaching in Christianity is that we are all way short of the finishing line. The reason that I am writing about this is that I have spent a lot of time in Church, both involuntarily in my school chapel which was Westminster Abbey, and voluntarily as a Christian in churches in Cambridge (whilst I was there studying for a decade.) Cambridge is still most aware of its Christian foundations. Whilst this seems to be an uncomfortable home truth, the tabloid journalists, whether they are Christian, or not should appreciate that they are living in a Christian country. Or else, they should spend less time attacking Barack Obama allegedly proselytising about Islam, even if it sells papers.
John 7, 53
And every man went unto his own house. 8:1 Jesus went unto the Mount of Olives. 2 And early in the morning he came again into the temple, and all the people came unto him; and he sat down, and taught them. 3 And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst, 4 They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act. 5 Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou? 6 This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not. 7 So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her. 8 And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground. 9 And they who heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. 10 When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee? 11 She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.
Or put another way…..
