I come from a family of bellowers. Sadly, this trait is combined with an inability to listen to others, resulting not so much in conversations as a competition of declamations. My wife and children have helped me to moderate this tendency over the years, so it can be a shock at family gatherings to experience it again, but as an “outsider”. Dismayed by the prospect of a long Christmas Day in the company of non-listeners, we spent the car journey to my Mother’s house devising a game. Each of us came up with a bizarre or unlikely phrase. The game was to insert these into the conversation without being detected. The four phrases we settled on were:

The bull’s knee-caps

Caramelised magic mushrooms

Meat shield

Juggling aardvarks

To our amusement and delight, we were able to pepper our conversations with these phrases; the most response any of us detected was the odd raised eyebrow.

So, moving swiftly on…

Samuel Johnson, son of Lichfield, would be proud to see that we have our own Speakers’ Corner. Situated on Dam Street at the edge of Minster Pool and with a fine view of the Cathedral, Speakers’ Corner is another of Lichfield’s well-kept secrets. It was inaugurated in May 2009 and, following the refurbishment of Minster Pool Walk, is now resplendent with a raised dais and leaning rail – or should that be “Railing Rail”? Until very recently, Speakers’ Corner has been somewhat under-utilised. Arguably, the most significant events held there so far have been Buskathon and Son Of Buskathon, not pertaining to public speaking but nevertheless enjoyable and well-attended. As the organiser of the original Buskathon and compere at SOB, I have spent a lot of time at Speakers’ Corner, much of it seated at the piano. I have become quite attached to it, so was delighted to hear of the Get It Off Your Chest initiative.

The Speakers’ Corner Committee (How did you think it was organised?) are promoting its intended use as a platform for public speaking and debate. Every Saturday at noon, a member of the committee will be at Speakers’ Corner to encourage members of the public to have their say – to Get It Of Their Chest. By establishing a regular slot, it is hoped that the event will become a fixture and that, in time, a crowd of listeners will gather to hear those brave enough to stand up and speak. Furthermore, it may even encourage others to step up to air their own views, perhaps even on the spur of the moment. Of course, any controversial point of view deserves be met with heckling and robust questions from the audience. Who knows, this might just reinvigorate grassroots politics at a time when apathy seems two be the order of the day.

Last Saturday, clutching my printed list of bullet points, I made my debut on the podium. The crowd was sparse to say the least and the only “heckling” I suffered was of the tame variety from my own tiny rent-a-crowd group, who had been persuaded to show up. That said, several passers-by stopped, albeit briefly, as I warmed to my theme. After a shaky and timid start, I found my stride and was able to increase the volume (thank the Lord for healthy vocal apparatus). I stepped down to a smattering of applause and realised that I had really quite enjoyed giving my maiden speech. John Brough from the committee was particularly pleased, although this was largely due to the fact that I had saved him from having to speak himself.

And the theme of my inaugural oration? If you come to Speaker’s Corner on Saturday 12th November at noon, you will find out when reprise my speech. Think of it as the Speaker’s Corner equivalent of BBC iPlayer. I look forward to seeing you there and, who knows, you may hear the call of your own inner ranter.

With kind regards,

Dave Simcox

Cheers

Speakers Corner team

Each event will feature at least two members of the Speakers’ Corner Steering Committee talking on topical issues, as well as encouraging members of the public with something to say, to say it on Speakers’ Corner!

So, if you’ve got something to get off your chest, make sure you are in Dam Street at Speakers’ Corner from 12noon at one or all of the following dates

Saturdays in October: 22nd & 29th
Saturdays in November: 5th, 12th, 19th & 26th
Saturdays in December: 3rd, 10th, 17th

See you there!

Canon Pete Wilcox, Chairman of the Lichfield Speakers’ Corner Committee explained: “As well as a beautifully inscribed stone pedestal, the area now boasts a newly walled listening area, and a speaker’s rail. Not only does the new Speakers’ Corner enhance one of the most beautiful areas of our city, it also creates a fantastic platform on which to have your say. We would like to thank Lichfield city and district councils for helping us to improve the look of the area, as part of the Historic Parks Project.”

Since its launch three years ago, Lichfield Speakers’ Corner has gone from strength to strength, and hosted a number of popular events including pre-election hustings, musical and literary performances, Fairtrade celebrations and a variety of presentations and debates on a wide range of contemporary issues which affect the public.

John Brough, former headteacher of the Friary School, and member of the founding committee commented: “Lichfield can be proud that it has the most attractive Speakers’ Corner in the country. I’ve been really pleased to speak up on the corner and I’d encourage others to join in and get involved. I’m looking forward to seeing our newly styled Speakers’ Corner becoming well used by local people, and perhaps as famous as London’s Hyde Park Speakers’ Corner! For as our very own Dr Johnson so rightly reminded us: ‘In order that all men may be taught to speak the truth, it is necessary that all likewise should learn to hear it’.”

Speakers’ Corner is a platform for people to exercise their precious right to freedom of speech. The platform is there quite simply for any individual or group of people of all ages to express their views on any topic at any reasonable time, or maybe to air their musical and literary talents. John Brough concluded: “Speakers’ Corner is yours – it belongs to you and it belongs to the city – let’s use it and let’s hear you!”

For more information, please contact Lichfield Speakers’ Corner Founding Committee, Chair Canon Pete Wilcox, Lichfield Cathedral, on 01543 306100.

Lichfield Speaker’s Corner was launched two years ago and became the second Speakers’ Corner outside London. The city landmark has continued to go from strength to strength, with talks this year on Fairtrade, the Census, Philip Larkin, World Teachers’ Day and much more.

Speakers’ Corner has also received a stunning facelift as part of the city centre parks project, and now boasts a beautiful stone plinth and commemorative plaque, bearing the inscription of a famous Johnson quote: “In order that all men may be taught to speak the truth, it is necessary that all likewise should learn to hear it.

Revd Dr Pete Wilcox, Chair Lichfield Speakers’ Corner Committee, and Canon Chancellor of Lichfield Cathedral explained: “We were delighted to celebrate yet another fantastic year at Speakers’ Corner Lichfield. We were also delighted to host our birthday celebrations as part of the much loved Buskathon event, which returned to Speakers’ Corner this year for the second time.”

He continued: “We celebrated in style with be a few short speeches, cake and more. I’d also like to take this opportunity to say a big thank you to Lichfield District Council, Lichfield City Council and Linfords stone masons for making the facelift of Speakers’ Corner possible, and of course to the Buskathon team and to MP Michael Fabricant for his rousing version of Happy Birthday and a Bob Dylan medley!.”

Set to take place at Speakers’ Corner, Dam Street on Saturday 14 and Sunday 15 May 2011, ‘Son of Buskathon’ will be an opportunity to raise funds for Lichfield’s FUSE Festival. Last year’s event organised by Dave Simcox raised in excess of £2000. 

This year all performers will again be encouraged to raise money through individual sponsorship with the aim of exceeding last year’s total and attempting to raise £3000 in support of FUSE.    

On Saturday 14 May, buskers from all genres will be scheduled to play from 9am to 7pm and, with the following day seeing Dave Simcox (aka Bruford Low) and Chris Newcombe (aka George from The Born Again Beatles) busking for 10 hours in relay.

Anyone interested in performing or finding out more about this event, please e-mail Chris Newcombe at cnewcombe@btinternet.com

Check out the FUSE website www.fuselichfield.org.uk for more information about the FUSE Festival.

We proudly proclaim our city’s ‘Fairtrade City’ status on the eight welcome boards on the main entrance roads into Lichfield. 

As we celebrate the third anniversary of achieving Fairtrade City status, it is a good time to ask – Where should we be going over the next five years with Fairtrade in Lichfield? 

As part of Fairtrade Fortnight here in Lichfield, the Fairtrade Lichfield Committee is organising an open meeting to discuss the future of Fairtrade in our city. 

It is on Saturday 5 March from 3.00 – 4.30 pm at the Lichfield Methodist Church in Tamworth Street.

We are pleased to welcome Paul Spray, Policy Director of Traidcraft to lead our discussion.  He is one of the country’s leading experts on justice in world trade.  Paul has previously worked for the government’s Department for International Development and for Christian Aid in policy work on how world trade can be a major force for overcoming world poverty. 

Also, everyone is welcome at Speakers Corner in Dam Street at 12.00 noon to celebrate the launch of an exciting piece of public art work made by students at the South Staffs College. 

It is being created from over 300 Fairtrade City spoons into the shape of the Fairtrade logo.  On each spoon the students have painted the face of a local Fairtrade supporter or a Third World producer. 

It will then go on display at different sites around the city.

Youth Work Week, is taking place at Minster Hall, from 12-4pm. The event will celebrate all the positive work that young people have been involved in, or lead on, over the last 12 months.

There will be a gallery of images on display for the whole community to see and experience – the images will be of work carried out by young people and specific projects that they have led on and created.

Videos produced by young people, and of district events, over the last year will also be shown on a rolling loop.

Young people will also be running a non-alcoholic cocktail bar, and showcasing the skills they have learnt during the recent alcohol awareness week. As well as this, young people will also be around to act as tour guides across the gallery spaces.

There will also be the unveiling of a static piece of artwork dedicated to showcasing how young people feel about youth work, and how it has influenced their lives during the day. This will be worked on in Youth work week (1-7 November) in the run-up to the event.

The event aims to target the whole community, from young people to elderly residents, to show how young people can positively influence and contribute to their community, and to also raise the profile of the work done by the positive activities section of Staffordshire Young People’s Service.

So, why not come along to Speakers’ Corner on Saturday 6 November to find out more – of if you can’t make it in time, come along to Minster Hall between 12noon and 4pm!

“God, this place is dull.”

Discover poet Philip Larkin, his love of Lichfield, and his links to the City through “A personal reminiscence of Larkin from someone who never knew him”

A free event, hosted in partnership with Speakers’ Corner Lichfield.

The excellent new Speakers’ Corner banners also made their first striking appearance on the day!

John Brough introduced the topic, stressing the need for the ‘new’ government to listen more to those who work at the chalk face of education – and especially to the real experts, students who themselves spend up to 13 years in the system.

At this point two sixth formers (Aimee in Y13 and Michael in Y12, both from King Edward VI school) stood and spoke with clarity, confidence and passion about two aspects of education which matter greatly to them: the lack of rigour in many GCSE examinations (from Aimee) and the need to fast-track more able students (from Michael).

John referred to both these concerns in the course of his speech, imploring Michael Gove, and the coalition government, not to repeat the mistakes of previous governments in focusing too heavily on examinations and qualifications, unnecessary structural change and excessive inspection and micromanagement. Instead he urged them to re-consider the fundamental question of What is education for?

Here are some extracts from his speech:

“As a former headteacher myself, I just worry that despite the undoubted and much needed investment we’ve seen in recent years in educational buildings, facilities, teacher training and support, there is a real danger that Michael Gove and company will repeat the mistakes of previous governments without examining the fundamental question – What is Education for?

I have to confess that I actually groaned, back in the late 1990’,s when I heard the then prime minister Tony Blair utter those famous words:

“Education Education Education”

because I knew that

a) another set of politicians were going to tell me what to do yet again
b) that their focus wouldn’t really be on Education at all – but on whatever aspects would catch the eye and potentially win votes and
c) that we’d be subject to yet more structural change and interference by government – which actually detracts and distracts from the real purpose of education.

So, going back to the key question, What is Education for?
For successive governments it would appear to be principally about maximising examination results – getting qualifications. Education, Education, Education = Qualifications, Qualifications, Qualifications. For sure, qualifications are extremely important but they are one outcome – an end product – of education – they don’t define it.

Of course, exams are important because they assess certain skills and allow universities and employers to make certain judgements. But all too often, they are used by government as a crude measurement of a school’s performance, when high quality education is much more than that. Exams, important as they undoubtedly are, tell us only a little about the quality of a young person. Richard Branson and Winston Churchill were not highly qualified academically, but few would question their quality as individuals.

We cannot continue to regard schools as exam factories. For a start, over-concentration on exams is not improving teaching and learning, does not encourage children to think nor does it broaden their real understanding of academic subjects. Too often it restricts their knowledge to simply memorising and developing exam techniques and model answers which can be easily assessed and score well. It was Einstein who reminded us that:

“Everything that can be counted does not necessarily count; and everything that counts cannot necessarily be counted”.

Education needs to be about developing the whole human being – not least the creative, logical, moral, spiritual and social dimensions. What is not nurtured and developed by the time a young person leaves school may well remain dormant for the rest of their lives. If children are fed primarily on a diet of exam preparation, by teachers who have had their initiative and creativity gradually sucked out of them by an emphasis on instruction, then no wonder that large numbers of children at school are bored, resentful and feel unfulfilled – many lose hope.

So – my message for the new coalition and Michael Gove in particular is to stop messing about with structures, organisation, statistics and an over-emphasis on qualifications, and to start trusting schools, heads, teachers – and young people themselves – to focus on the broader view of education. And that must surely include, incidentally, the urgent development of a first-class apprenticeship system right up to the equivalent of degree level, so that we don’t get a proliferation of young people doing university courses for which they are unsuited and which may ultimately and sadly lead them nowhere. That way, education will truly help to begin to re-engage the minds, hearts and enthusiasm of so many more of our children.

Pete Wilcox brought the session to an end by thanking all the speakers and highlighting the imminent enhancement and development of Speakers Corner as part of the City’s Heritage Project, with a plinth, a stone and a rail to mark the spot much more obviously and proudly! He encouraged the audience to use it! Pete also drew attention to the next Speakers’ Corner event on Wednesday October 20th when Peter Young will give a talk on the poet Philip Larkin (in the Guildhall at 7.30 p.m.)

As Speakers’ Corner strongly signifies the right to freedom of speech, the final words of the day came from the winner of this year’s Nobel Peace Prize – the Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo:

Freedom of Expression is the basis of human rights, the source of humanity, and the mother of truth.