magnacarta800th.com Newsletter / Issue 16 June 2015 JUNE 2015 NEWSLETTER Finally, Magna Carta Day is here. Crescendo: “the climactic point or moment in such an increase; peak” according to the dictionary. The peak of the Magna Carta 800th Anniversary Commemoration is upon us. 15 June 2015, Magna Carta Day, when the Queen as Patron of the Magna Carta Trust and the Duke of Edinburgh will be with us at Runnymede, 800 years exactly since King John ‘sealed the deal’ with the Barons and Bishops to agree what we now know as the Great Charter, Magna Carta. See stamps, below, and on pps. 6, 7,10, 13, 14. Crescendo also means “increasing in loudness”, and it has certainly done that. When I was given the job of chairing the Anniversary on the 9th of October 2009, worldwide, little did I know that it would take over my life and have, as I’d hoped it would, a life of its own. You can see the culmination of others’ efforts listed in this June issue of the Magna Carta Newsletter, at least of some of those things happened of which we are aware. Hundreds of activities in hundreds of villages such as Odiham, towns such as Faversham, and cities like Durham, Lincoln, Salisbury and Canterbury, and the City of London, by a constitutionalist like the University of Virginia’s Professor Dick Howard’s lectures in the British Library’s Eccles Centre, at the American Embassy and elsewhere, in academic symposia in Grenada and Barbados, Amiens and Luxembourg, Canterbury and Lincoln, Washington and Beijing, and in many cathedrals, castles and universities throughout the world. Early in June one particularly outstanding event will be happening in all the British Magna Carta towns, first-day covers dated 2nd June and postmarked Magna Carta for the next four days and Egham post office near Runnymede already sold out by 10am. The special Royal Mail suite of six stamps will be combined in a commemoration packet with the £2 coin, struck for the 800th anniversary, thanks to the Royal Mail and the Royal Mint. Our star academics and writers of the many Magna Carta books have been and will be at the many literary festivals being held all over the country, and especially assiduous in this have been Magna Carta scholars Professors Nicholas Vincent, David Carpenter, Nigel Saul and jurists Lords (Igor) Judge, Neuberger, Thomas, Dyson (Chairman of the Magna Carta Trust as David Neuberger was before him, and Lady Arden. Authors Christopher Lloyd (Magna Carta Chronicle), Nicholas Vincent (Magna Carta: The Foundation of Freedom; 1215 2015), Kortney Harper (History Rocks: Magna Carta) , David Carpenter (Magna Carta) and many others (too many for me to read them all) have also hit the road to many invitations from many groups to spread the word of the enduring contribution in response to interested audiences in many countries. The twin peak highlights coming up are two: Runnymede, 15th June, and Westminster Hall, 31st July, for the Mock Trial of the Barons and Bishops charged with Treason! Against King John (featured in this space in last month’s Newsletter.) Sir Robert Worcester KBE DL Chairman, Magna Carta 800th Committee In this newsletter is a comprehensive list of events in June. Find out more about other events at our website, www.magnacarta800th.com. @MagnaCarta800th Search: Magna Carta 800th Anniversary www.vimeo.com/ magnacarta/ www.flickr.com/ photos/magna-carta/ 01 magnacarta800th.com Newsletter / Issue 16 June 2015 June Highlights: • 8th: Professor Howard speaking at the United States Embassy, London. Private event. • 1st : ‘Magna Carta’s American Adventure’, British Library. Professor Dick Howard, Speaker. 18:30 – 20:00. • 8th: Relay carrying Magna Carta through Slough, focusing on flags of the Commonwealth. • 1 : Magna Carta Citizenship Ceremony at Allington Castle, Kent. Hosted by Sir Robert Worcester. 18:00. st • 1 : ‘What has Magna Carta Ever Done For Us?’ Live debate, open to the public, London School of Economics. 18:30 – 20:00. st • 1st – 28th: William Shakespeare’s King John, at the Globe Theatre, London. • 1 – 19 : ‘The Loss of Liberties in Victorian Art’ exhibition at Royal Holloway, University of London. st th • 1st June – 29th August: Magna Carta Pop – Up Exhibition, at the United Church of Egham. Organised by Egham Museum. • 1st June – 20th September: Magna Carta and the City, walking tours of the City of London. • 1st June – 31st August: ‘Magna Carta and the Changing Face of Revolt’, exhibition. Palace Green Library, Durham. • 2nd: Magna Carta commemorative stamps released by Royal Mail. • 4th: ‘Magna Carta and the Rule of Law,’ Chertsey Hall. Professor Nigel Saul, Speaker. 19:00. • 5th – 6th: ‘Magna Carta, King John, and the Civil War in Kent’, conference in Canterbury. • 6th: ‘It’s time for a new Magna Carta’ Bagehot Memorial Debate, Langport, UK. Lord Tyler and Lord Norton, Speakers. 18:45 • 7th – 14th : Runnymede Music Festival. • 7th: ‘Magna Carta’s American Adventure’, Salisbury Cathedral. Professor Dick Howard, Speaker. 18:00. • 8th: HRH the Princess Royal officially opens Lincoln Castle’s Magna Carta Vault. • 8th : ‘Magna Carta: England’s Greatest Export’, at the English – Speaking Union. Derek Taylor, Speaker. 19:00 – 20:00. • 8th : Italian Cultural Institute of London hosts the 10th Italian – British Convention. Theme: ‘Constitutional Heritage of Magna Carta.’ • 9th: Magna Carta Citizenship Ceremony at Salisbury Cathedral. • 10th: Graham Clarke’s Starta Magna Carta Theatra, Kent, History and Library Centre, Maidstone. • 10th: The Annual Lincoln Magna Carta Lecture, Lincoln Cathedral. Lord (Igor) Judge, Speaker. 19:00 – 20:00. • 11th: Franco – British Conference, ‘Magna Carta and the Déclaration des Droits de l’Homme et du Citoyen.’ Lancaster House, London. 8:30 – 17:15. • 11th: Magna Carta 800th Anniversary Lecture, UCL Institute of Education. Hosted by Paceworking and the Society of Black Lawyers. 18:00 – 21:30. • 11th - 14th : American Bar Association (ABA) series of legal education programmes and plenary sessions, London. • 12th: ‘Magna Carta Canada’ exhibition opens at the Canadian Museum of History, Ottawa. • 12th: The launch of the River Relay, at Wraysbury. • 12th: ‘Magna Carta – do we need a new Charter?‘ at Mint Methodist Church, Exeter. Dominic Grieve QC, Speaker. • 12th June – 6th September: The Lincoln and Salisbury Barons’ Charter Trail • 12th – 16th: Exhibition of historic documents at Exeter Cathedral. • 13th: Egham Magna Carta Day. • 13th: Britain’s Got Talent winners Diversity headline Magna Carta Party at Lincoln Castle. 19:00 – 22:00. • 13th – 14th: Magna Carta River Relay. 200 boats led by HM the Queen’s row barge Gloriana from Windsor to Runnymede. 02 magnacarta800th.com Newsletter / Issue 16 June 2015 June Highlights cont. • 15th – 19th: ‘Magna Carta 800 Medway’ Conference, hosted by The Human Rights Office. • 13th – 14th : Great Magna Carta Weekend, Lincoln. • 16th: Royal Holloway, University of London’s annual Magna Carta Lecture. Speaker Rt Hon Jack Straw. 18:15. • 13th – 15th: Magna Carta Gala Weekend, Salisbury Cathedral. • 14th: Magna Carta: The Pageant, at Runnymede Pleasure Grounds. 10:00 – 18:00. • 17th: ‘The Legacy of Magna Carta for the Western Balkans.’ Conference at South East European University, Tetovo, Republic of Macedonia. • 14th: Unveiling of a 10 – foot commemorative statue of HM the Queen, at Runnymede. 9:00 – 14:30. • 17th – 19th : ‘Magna Carta Project’ conference, King’s College London and British Library. • 14th: Commemoration at Holy Trinity Cathedral, Auckland, New Zealand. 17:00. • 18th: Former ABA President Stephen Zack presents National History Day Magna Carta Awards. • 14th: Great Charter Festival, Royal Holloway, University of London. • 14th: National LiberTeas moment. • 14th: ‘Strike a Blow for Democracy’ Bell – ringing across the UK. • 18th: ‘Magna Carta and the Law’, Salisbury Cathedral. Lord (Igor) Judge, Speaker. 19:30 – 20:30. • 14th: Temple Church Service for senior judiciaries. • 18th: ‘The Relevance of Magna Carta Abroad’, Bingham Centre. Chief Justice of Canada Beverly McLachlin, Speaker. 18:00. • 15th: Magna Carta 800th Anniversary Commemoration, Runnymede. HM, HRH. • 18th – 21st: The Eastern Three Choirs Festival, Lincoln. • 15th: Rededication of the ABA Memorial. • 21st – 24th: ‘Magna Carta and the Freedom of Religion or Belief’ Conference. St Hugh’s College, Oxford. • 15th: 12:15 pm, Red Arrows and Battle of Britain flypast. • 15th: Attorney General of New Zealand General Chris Finlayson hosts reception at New Zealand Parliament. 17:30 – 19:00. • 15th: Magna Carta Pageant, Salisbury. Dignitaries will seal a new Magna Carta for Wiltshire. 20:00. • 15th: ‘Magna Carta and Contemporary Human Rights’, United Church of Egham. Speaker Tim Hancock, Amnesty International UK. 19:00 – 22:00. • 15 : Lord Bates’ walk from Runnymede to Westminster. th • 15th: Beer Day Britain – national cheers to Magna Carta at 12.15pm. • 23rd: Public event at the National Library, Wellington, New Zealand. • 23rd: Professor Linda Colley lecture at Society of Antiquarians. 13:00 – 14:00. • 27th June – 27th September: ‘Lincolnshire’s Great Exhibition’, city – wide, Lincoln. • 28th June: Faversham’s 1300 Magna Carta tours Kent. • Until 25th July: ‘Magna Carta – Game of Barons’ exhibition, Trowbridge Museum. There are many exhibitions currently running which commemorate Magna Carta. Click here for more information on them all. • 15th: ‘Magna Carta: Celebrating 800 Years of Law and Liberty’, Centre for Independent Studies, Australia. Hon James Spigelman AC QC and Hon Christian Porter MP, Speakers. 18:00 - 20:00. 03 magnacarta800th.com Newsletter / Issue 16 June 2015 Royal Mail Magna Carta Stamps Treason? Trial of the Magna Carta Barons and Bishops Royal Mail launched on 2nd June a suite of stamps to mark the 800th anniversary of Magna Carta, the foundation stone of the rule of law. It might have taken 800 years but on the 31st July 2015, judgement shall be passed on whether the actions of the Bishops and Barons at Runnymede in 1215 constituted Treason, if there had been the Rule of Law, rather than the King’s ‘divine right to rule’. A Mock Trial will take place in Westminster Hall, Houses of Parliament where the Court met for centuries. To commemorate this milestone, Royal Mail worked closely with the Magna Carta 800th Committee to produce a sixstamp set commemorating the Magna Carta itself as well as major charters, bills and declarations inspired by it that have developed the rule of law in the centuries since and around the world. As well as the Magna Carta, the 750th anniversary of Simon de Montfort’s Parliament is also marked with a First Class stamp. Other stamps commemorate the Bill of Rights (1689) and the American Bill of Rights (1791); the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948) and from our own century the Charter of the Commonwealth (2013). Each stamp features an excerpt from each document or charter, together with a woodblock illustration. The Magna Carta design features Clause 39. The stamps are available individually as well as in a specially-designed Presentation Pack each pack written by Professor Nigel Saul. See www.royalmail.com/magnacarta for more details. Click here to purchase six stamps plus an uncirculated £2 Magna Carta commemorative coin. The Supreme Court and The Magna Carta 800th Anniversary Commemoration Committee are working with the Royal Commonwealth Society to commemorate the 800th anniversary of Magna Carta. 31st July is the final day of the Law Year. This Mock Trial features a panel of distinguished judges (Lord Neuberger, President of the UK Supreme Court; Dame Sian Elias, Chief Justice of New Zealand, and Hon. Stephen Breyer, Associate Justice of the US Supreme Court) hear the case for and against the Barons and Bishops. There will be two leading advocates for the prosecution, and two for the defence, from Commonwealth countries. King John will appear as a witness of the Prosecution. Sir Robert Rogers (pictured), now Lord Lisvane, the witness for the Barons and Bishops (the Commons might not exist today but for the Barons at Runnymede on 15th June 1215). Click here to register for the event places are limited! Magna Carta and the Freedom of Religion or Belief 21st – 24th June. St Hugh’s College, Oxford. Hosted by the International Center for Law and Religion Studies, in cooperation with The Oxford Journal of Law and Religion. Leading academics, policy makers, lawyers, and students will attend this conference commemorating the 800th anniversary of the Magna Carta. The itinerary includes presentations and visits to Runnymede and the Inns of Court, and will address a blend of historical and current issues. Speakers include: • The Rt Hon Lord (Igor) Judge, Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales (2008-2013), co-author: Magna Carta Uncovered (Hart Publishing, 2014) • Professor Mark Hill, QC, Cardiff University, King’s College London, University Pretoria, co-editor: Magna Carta, Religion, and the Rule of Law (Cambridge, 2015) • Professor Nicholas Vincent, University of East Anglia, The Magna Carta Project, author: Magna Carta: A Very Short Introduction (Oxford, 2012), and Magna Carta: The Foundation of Freedom 1215 – 2015 (Third Millennium Publishing, 2014) • Professor R.H. Helmholz, University of Chicago Law School, author: ‘Magna Carta and the Law of Nations’, in Magna Carta, Religion, and the Rule of Law (Cambridge, 2015) For further highlights and to register for the event, please click here to visit the website, or email [email protected]. Click here to find out more about Magna Carta and Oxford. 04 magnacarta800th.com Newsletter / Issue 16 June 2015 Address by Her Majesty from 1953 Lest we fail to remember in the “picnic in the park” and “LiberTeas” celebrations of the 800th anniversary of Magna Carta, let us also Commemorate the “Address by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth The Second at the unveiling of the Runnymede Memorial, 17th October 1953”, adjacent to the Runnymede Meadow: and not enslaved. And when the life of this belief was threatened by the iron hand of tyranny, their successors came forward without hesitation to fight and, if it was demanded of them, to die for its salvation. As only free men can, they knew the value of that for which they fought, and that the price was worth paying. “This memorial has been built in proud memory of the men and women of the Air Forces of the British Commonwealth and Empire who lost their lives serving from bases in the United Kingdom and North-West Europe in the Second World War, and who have no known graves. “They were alone in this knowledge and in this sacrifice. At this very hour a memorial porch is being unveiled in Chelmsford Cathedral to commemorate some of those American airmen who fought together with us against the same aggression. “They were part of a glorious and far larger company who laid down their lives for freedom: and this memorial is one of many others, built, wherever the battle raged, so that they may not be forgotten. Twenty thousand four hundred and fifty-five names are recorded on these stones: and all races and countries of the British Commonwealth have here their representatives. “With prophetic insight, Pope wrote of this hill on which we stand: “It is very fitting that those who rest in nameless graves should be remembered in this place. For it was in those fields of Runnymede seven centuries ago that our forefathers first planted a seed of liberty which helped to spread across the earth the conviction that man should be free “‘On Cooper’s Hill eternal wreaths shall grow While lasts the mountain, or while Thames shall flow.’ “Indeed the heroism of each be remembered for as long as this memorial shall stand. But that which was done by all will, with God’s help, still be remembered when these stones have crumbled into dust. For wherever and for as long as freedom flourishes on the earth, the men and women who possess it will thank them and will say they did not die in vain. This is their true and everlasting memorial.” 05 magnacarta800th.com Newsletter / Issue 16 June 2015 Magna Carta in Runnymede overview There is a host of events and activities in and around Runnymede to mark this historic moment in time. Royal Holloway, University of London Spelthorne Borough Council Between 1st -19th June, Royal Holloway, University of London, will open the famous Holloway Picture Gallery in a new exhibition titles ‘The Loss of Liberties in Victorian Art.’ This project has received funding from the Magna Carta 800th Anniversary Commemoration Committee. It will use paintings from the Holloway Collection to evoke discussions about human rights. • On Sunday 14th June from 10am-5pm Royal Holloway, University of London, will host The Great Charter Festival. This free festival will take a creative and critical look upon the themes of justice, freedom and rights. Features include: • A family day at ‘The Loss of Liberties in Victorian Art’ exhibition. • Watch the stories of eight influential people throughout history come to life with the performance of the Giant Puppets created by school children from all over Surrey. • Entertainers Stan’s Cafe will depict the UK’s population as 1,068kg of rice, providing lots of thought provoking statistics. • Presentations by Christopher Lloyd, author of ‘The Magna Carta Chronicle’. • At 3pm its time for tea!Royal Holloway, University of London, hosts its own LiberTeas. • Hand crafted Magna Carta quilts. • The Disability arts in Surrey (DAiSY) group will showcase music, drama and art which champion equality and freedom of expression. • Paintings by Alan Perriman depicting the landscape of Runnymede as it is today and in the 13th - Century. • A twelve minute snapshot of the Freedom Game Opera – performed on 12th May at the Royal Albert Hall. • Artist Hew Locke, creator of The Jurors, will talk about the artwork to be unveiled by HRH the Duke of Cambridge on 15th June. • Members of the Knights Templar will premiere arrangements of Kipling’s The Reeds at Runnymede with the Royal Holloway, University of London Chapel Choir. • • • 6th June: Staines – upon – Thames Medieval Market. There will be demonstrations of medieval combat, tournaments, and trials. Other medieval crafts will also be on show. 13th – 14th June: Spelthorne Borough Council will be working with other boroughs to unite Surrey around the River Relay. 13th June: A Barons’ Gathering, at Lammas Recreation Park. This free event celebrates the little known fact that many of the Magna Carta Barons assembled in Staines – Upon – Thames before travelling to Runnymede. Events include jousting, combat displays, period dancing, falconry, ale tasting, children’s activities and much more. 12:15 – 20:15. 13th June: Watch the River Flotilla from King’s Meadow Lawn, Sunbury – on – Thames. From 11:00. For further enquiries: Catherine Learmonth, Arts and Young people officer, Spelthorne Borough Council ([email protected]) For further details, and for the full programme please click here. 06 magnacarta800th.com Newsletter / Issue 16 June 2015 Runnymede Borough Council and Egham Upcoming events: • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 1st June – 29th August: Magna Carta Pop – Up Exhibition, at the United Church of Egham. Organised by Egham Museum. 2nd June – 12th June: Sports Festival, hosted by Royal Holloway, University of London – a Magna Carta trophy for the winners. 4th June: Professor Nigel Saul Lecture, ‘Magna Carta and the Rule of Law’, Chertsey Hall. 19:00. 7th- 14th June: Runnymede Music Festival. 10th June: Anthony Barnett Lecture, ‘A Modern Magna Carta’, at the United Church of Egham. 19:00. 12th – 16th June: Runnymede Flower Festival. Displays will depict the shields of the 25 Barons and the Coat of Arms of the Charter Towns. 13th June: Egham annual Magna Carta Day. This town tradition will feature a food and wine festival as well as a fireworks display at Strode’s College. 13th – 14th June: Street Theatre, featuring giant puppets created by Ballyhoo Arts and local schools. 13th – 14th June: The Magna Carta River Relay. This major event will see 200 boats led by HM the Queen’s row barge Gloriana, commence from Hurley on 13th June and arrive at Runnymede Pleasure Ground on the 14th. Actors will recount the story of Magna Carta at each of the stops. This event has been organised by Thames Alive, Runnymede Borough Council, Spelthorne Borough Council, and the Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead. 14th June: ‘Magna Carta: The Pageant’. Runnymede Pleasure Grounds, from 11am. There will be a reenactment of the events leading up to the sealing of Magna Carta by Past Pleasures, the most experienced historical interpretation company in the UK. A range of other family activities will also be available. This is a ticketed event – and all have been taken. For more information click here. 10:00 – 18:00. 14th June: The unveiling ceremony of a 10 –foot commemorative statue of HM Queen Elizabeth II, situated beside the River Thames at Runnymede. 9:00. 14th June: Beacon lighting at St Ann’s Hill. Includes Morris dancing, music, and theatre. 15th June: ‘Magna Carta and Contemporary Human Rights’, United Church of Egham. Tim Hancock, Amnesty International UK Speaker. 19:00 – 22:00. Until December: Chertsey Museum’s ‘Magna Carta: Freedom Under Law’ exhibition. Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead • • • • • • • • • • • 5th – 7th June: St. Andrew’s Church Flower Festival. Organisations and youth groups to take part. An embroidered wall hanging has been developed, depicting King John sealing Magna Carta. 8th June: Relay carrying Magna Carta through Slough, with a march in the afternoon focusing on the flags of the Commonwealth. 10th June: Gurkha Walk – Lincoln to Salisbury, via Maidenhead and Windsor. 11th June: Wraysbury Players Magna Carta play. 12th June: The launch of the River Relay (ticketed event). 13th June: Wraysbury Fair – featuring floats, archery, falconry, Morris dancing, and jousting. The village will be decorated with the colours of King John’s colours. 13th: Eton Community Fete 13th – 14th: River Relay, departing from Hurley. 13th – 14th June: LiberTeas events across the Royal Borough. 14th June: Songs of Praise will follow a LiberTeas event. 14th June: Bell ringing to join the peal of bells rung across the country. 07 magnacarta800th.com Newsletter / Issue 16 June 2015 Magna Carta and Lincoln The Great Magna Carta Weekend Lincoln is the site of many commemorative Magna Carta events. The Lincoln Magna Carta is one of the surviving original 1215 documents, and is now housed in a new Magna Carta Vault in Lincoln Castle. The Charter is known as the most ‘well – travelled’ of the originals, having visited the United States before – most recently as the main feature of the Library of Congress’ exhibition Magna Carta: Muse and Mentor. A series of fun family-friendly events are being held in the city from Thursday 11th June until Monday 15th June. These include: HRH the Princess Royal will officially open Lincoln Castle on the 8th June. The Great Exhibition Lincoln will be hosting a unique exhibition in venues across the city from 27th June to 27th September. Lincolnshire’s Great Exhibition will be displayed in five venues. In the David P J Ross Magna Carta Vault there will be one of the very rare copies of the definitive 1225 Henry III Magna Carta. In the Wren and Medieval Libraries of the Cathedral there will be manuscripts and printed books. For the first time in 400 years the two volumes of the Chapter Bible will be displayed side by side. Other artefacts will be on display across the city. The Historic Lincoln Trust has worked closely with the Royal Collection, the British Library, the National Archives, the Victoria & Albert Museum, the National Portrait Gallery, and other great public and private collections to create the greatest exhibition ever staged in Lincolnshire. Click here for more information about the Great Exhibition and the Historic Lincoln Trust. • 13th – 14th June: Across the weekend, Lincoln’s famous Steep Hill Street will come alive with the story of King John as told by the country’s best storytellers – from rap artists to local performers. • 13th - 14th June: The Night of Festivals, at Brayford Waterfront. Every 45 minutes, spectators will witness carnivals featuring giant puppets, fireworks, and live musicians. Saturday 10:00 – 20:00, Sunday 11:00 – 16:00. • 14th June: ‘Barmy Britain Part 2’, a free Horrible Histories show including a brand new Magna Carta sketch. • 14th June: Britain’s Got Talent winners Diversity are the headline act at a Magna Party Concert at Lincoln Castle. 20:00 – 22:00. • 15th June: A carnival procession featuring a giant King John. The Lincoln Barons’ Charter Trail Six foot sculptures of Barons, 25 in all, have been decorated by artists from Lincolnshire and beyond. Local businesses and organisations have worked with the artists to devise a different theme for each Baron, including a Squadron Leader Baron, the Mayor of Lincoln Baron and a Steampunk Baron. From the 12th June – 6th September, the finished sculptures will be placed around the city centre, creating a colourful and fun trail for visitors to follow. Each one is marked with a letter – when all the letters are collected, they form a phrase that can be deciphered in exchange for some of King John’s gold (chocolate!) coins. The Baron’s Charter Trail is a ‘Wild in Art’ event brought to Lincoln by The Trussell Trust and Lincoln BIG. The sculptures will be displayed for three months, before being auctioned with all proceeds from the sales donated to The Trussell Trust, the national foodbank charity. The Eastern Three Choirs Festival From Thursday 18th June to Sunday 21st June Lincoln there will be choral and other music at Lincoln Cathedral. A full listing of performances can be downloaded here from our site. Click here for more information about Magna Carta and Lincoln. 08 magnacarta800th.com Newsletter / Issue 16 June 2015 Magna Carta, Salisbury and Trowbridge. Chapter House at Salisbury Cathedral houses the finest preserved 1215 Magna Carta (pictured). ‘Magna Carta: Spirit of Justice, Power of Words’ is a new exhibition and one of many opportunities in Wiltshire to engage with the relevance of the Great Charter in this commemoration month. There are many activities on offer in the neighbouring town of Trowbridge. Upcoming events at Salisbury: • Magna Carta Walks: Liberty, Justice, and Power. This guided walk will take place on the 6th, 13th, 20th, 27th of June. Walks begin from Salisbury Information Centre. Click here for more information. • Calligraphy Workshops: on 6th and 20th June. Salisbury Cathedral. • 7th June: ‘Magna Carta’s American Adventure,’ Salisbury Cathedral. Professor Dick Howard, Speaker. 18:00. • 9th: Magna Carta Citizenship Ceremony at Salisbury Cathedral. • 9th June: Spotlight talk at the Library and Archive of Salisbury Cathedral. 11:00 – 11:30. • 12th June – 6th September: The Barons’ Charter Trail Salisbury 2015. • 13th – 15th June: Magna Carta Gala Weekend. Concerts at Salisbury Cathedral. • 13th June – 15th September: ‘Enlightenment’, an interactive lighting projection in the Cathedral’s North Porch. • 14th June: Magna Carta Eucharist. Music from a newly written setting by the Cathedral’s Director of Music. 10:30. • 14th June: A free LiberTeas event. • 15th June: Magna Carta Pageant. Dignitaries will seal a new Magna Carta statement for Wiltshire in the 21stCentury. 20:00. • 15th June: Magna Carta Celebration in the Cathedral Close, in partnership with Wiltshire Council. • 18th June: ‘Magna Carta and the Law,’ Salisbury Cathedral. Lord (Igor) Judge, Speaker. 19:30 – 20:30. • 20th June: Magna Carta display at Old Sarum. 10:00 – 18:00. • 20th June: Salisbury Playhouse Stage ’65 Youth Theatre. Salisbury Cathedral. 19:00m and 20:30. Upcoming events at Trowbridge and Wiltshire: • Until 25th July: ‘Magna Carta – Game of Barons’ exhibition at Trowbridge Museum. • Until 30th September: Magna Carta Window Display Competition – can you find all the Henry de Bohun Coat of Arms in businesses supporting the Great Charter celebrations? • 13th June: Lacock Abbey ‘Magna Carta’ exhibition. • 13th – 14th June: Strike a blow for democracy. Bell ringers across the UK will take part. • 14th June: Trowbridge LiberTeas event. Click here for more information about Magna Carta and Salisbury. 09 magnacarta800th.com Newsletter / Issue 16 June 2015 Faversham’s Magna Carta tours Kent ‘Magna Carta Rediscovered’ has opened in Faversham and will now tour Kent. Faversham’s 1300 Magna Carta is in excellent condition and features the seal of King Edward I. The Charter is in the custodianship of Faversham Town Council, lead partners in this project with Visit Kent. Magna Carta New Zealand The Magna Carta 800 Committee for New Zealand is chaired by Dr Jennifer LeesMarshment at the University of Auckland. Through a range of events the Committee hopes not just to reflect on the past, but to promote a debate about how New Zealand may develop in the decades to come. On Monday 16th March, a Magna Carta essay competition was launched by Attorney - General Chris Finlayson for all New Zealand secondary and tertiary students. Upcoming commemoration events: The exhibition at The Alexander Centre (until Sunday, 28th June), uses modern interpretive techniques to present the story. The exhibition offers a chance to view the Faversham Magna Carta, one of Kent’s most important treasures, rarely on public display. The history of Magna Carta is united with its contemporary importance. • 9th June: Canterbury Historical Association Panel: ‘Magna Carta, Rights and Legacies’. Magna Carta and New Zealand major theme. 18:30. • 14th June: Commemoration at Holy Trinity Cathedral, Auckland. 17:00. The exhibition is enhanced with a series of interactives presenting the main figures involved in the events on the 15th June, including a ‘Table of Negotiation’ game. The impact of Magna Carta across the world is visually illustrated with the opportunity to find out more about the location of these Charters • 15th June: Attorney - General Chris Finlayson hosts a reception at Grand Hall of Parliament, Wellington. 17:30 – 19:00. • 15th June: Auckland Bell Ringers to ring for Magna Carta from St. Mathews Tower. • 19th June: Special feature in the New Zealand Law Society’s magazine, ‘Law Talk.’ • 23rd June: Public event at The National Library, Wellington. • 6th – 10th July: Magna Carta Lecture series at the University of Auckland. Multiple lectures and events – click here for more information. • 7th July: ‘The Maori Magna Carta – Waitangi and Beyond’, at the University of Auckland. 18:45. Visitors can explore topics in depth with the transcription and translation of clauses within Magna Carta and can investigate many different topics contained in the charter. Whilst in Faversham, ‘Magna Carta Rediscovered’ is supported by the Faversham Charters Collection, which complements the main exhibition with displays of Charters from the town’s collection, described by Professor Nicholas Vincent as being ‘a magnificent collection’ When ‘Magna Carta Rediscovered’ closes in Faversham on Sunday 28th June, it will tour Kent, at Canterbury, Maidstone, Dover, Sandwich and Rochester. The exhibition has been sponsored by the Heritage Lottery Fund, the Magna Carta 800th Anniversary Commemoration Committee and Southeastern Railway. For further information visit www.magnacartarediscovered. co.uk Click here for more information about Magna Carta and Kent. 10 magnacarta800th.com Newsletter / Issue 16 June 2015 International overview cont. Events to commemorate the sealing of Magna Carta are taking place across the world. The American Bar Association (ABA) The ABA has taken the lead with commemorating Magna Carta in the United States. With the Magna Carta 800th Anniversary Commemoration Committee, the ABA Division for Public Education has developed Icon of Liberty under Law, a multimedia website which links Magna Carta to statutes and sites of importance across the globe. The ABA Magna Carta Memorial is at Runnymede to mark the importance of the Great Charter internationally. The Library of Congress hosted an original 1215 Charter in 2014 at the exhibition ‘Magna Carta: Muse and Mentor.’ The ABA hosted Magna Carta events across the United States on national Law Day, on the 1st May. Upcoming commemoration events: • An ABA video, ‘Magna Carta: Symbol of Freedom under Law’ won a first place honours in the 36th annual Telly Awards. Click here to view this film. • 1st June: ‘Magna Carta’s American Adventure,’ at the British Library. Distinguished medievalist Professor Dick Howard, Speaker. 18:30 – 20:00. • 8 June: Professor Howard will speak at the United States Embassy, London. Private event. • 11th – 14th June: The ABA present a series of legal education programmes and plenary sessions in London. th • 15th June, Runnymede. The Princess Royal and ABA President William Hubbard rededication of ABA Memorial with Royal Marine Band playing O’Neill’s 1215: Foundation of Liberty and Gregg’s The Glorious 800th. • 18th June: ABA Magna Carta Anniversary Committee Chair Stephen Zack will present National History Day Magna Carta Awards Magna Carta Canada Canada is proudly participating in the worldwide celebrations of Magna Carta, with several significant initiatives. Durham Cathedral’s original copy of the 1300 exemplifications of both Magna Carta and The Charter of the Forest will visit Canada in a new exhibition. This will open on 12th June 2015 at the Canadian Museum of History in Ottawa. The exhibition will then travel to: • Winnipeg – Canadian Museum for Human Rights – 15th August, 2015 to 18th September, 2015 • Toronto – Fort York Visitor Centre – 4th October 2015 to 7th November 2015 • Edmonton – Legislative Assembly of Alberta Visitor Centre – 23rd November 2015 to 29th December 2015. Further achievements include: • A book, Magna Carta and its Gifts to Canada, launched at the University of Toronto on 2nd May. • A bill, The Magna Carta Day Act, designates 15th June annually as Magna Carta Day in Ontario. This has received a second reading and it is hoped that it will become law. • 53,000 Canadian teachers have been invited to take part in an education programme, which uses the ‘Magna Carta Chronicle’ timeline. Click here to find out more about the United States and Magna Carta. 11 magnacarta800th.com Newsletter / Issue 16 June 2015 International overview cont. Events to commemorate the sealing of Magna Carta are taking place across the world. Australia The Rule of Law Institute of Australia has recently launched an exhibition, ‘Magna Carta: to no one will we deny justice’, at the Australia High Court of Justice. More information on this can be found later in this newsletter. The Institute has sponsored a conference, ‘Judicial Independence in Australia: Contemporary Challenges, Future Directions,’ at the University of Queensland, Brisbane, on 10th – 11th July. The Institute has produced a poster to assist with the teaching of Magna Carta, which can be viewed here. The Institute has produced a companion film to the 800th anniversary, which can be viewed here. The Magna Carta Committee of Australia, is organising a public event at Magna Carta Place, Canberra on Sunday afternoon, 14 July 2015. More information about this can be found here. Commonwealth Caribbean The University of the West Indies is leading commemoration events in the Caribbean. Dr Hamid Ghany organised a lecture series funded by the Magna Carta 800th Anniversary Commemoration Committee, which has engaged thousands of students studying in countries throughout the English Speaking Caribbean. Magna Carta and the Commonwealth Caribbean runs between October 2014 – July 2015. For more information about the project click here. European Seminars and Debates in Continental Europe. On the 5th March 2015, His Excellency Péter Szabadhegy hosted a Magna Carta lecture at the Hungarian Embassy, London. Speaking on the panel (pictured, left to right) were Professor Gábor Hamza, of the Department of Civil Law at the Eötvös Loránd University School of Law; Sir Robert Worcester, Chairman of the Magna Carta 800th Anniversary Commemoration Committee; Professor Justin Fisher, Brunel University, Chair of the Magna Carta 800th Academic Sub – Committee who discuss Magna Carta 1215 and the Golden Bull of Hungary. Professor Robert Blackburn of King’s College London has been instrumental in bringing Magna Carta debates to Europe. Events include: • 25th May, Professor Blackburn spoke at the Centre for European Constitutional Law (CECL), Athens, alongside Professor Spyridon Flogaitis, chaired by Professor Xenophon Contiades, Director of CECL. The theme was ‘800 Years of Magna Carta – UK and Greek perspectives.’ • 17thJune, ‘The Legacy of Magna Carta for the Western Balkans.’ Conference at South East European University, Tetovo, Republic of Macedonia. • 12th November, a seminar at the European Court of Human Rights, Strasbourg. This will be opened by President of the Court, Judge Dean Spielmann and introduced by Professor Blackburn. This will be followed by a series of presentations from a panel of distinguished legal, political and historical experts. • Date TBA: A Magna Carta seminar at the Universities of Perugia or Brecia and at Amiens, France – more details to follow. Click here for more information about King’s College London and Magna Carta. 12 magnacarta800th.com Newsletter / Issue 16 June 2015 Magna Carta Committee of the Rule of Law Institute of Australia Magna Carta at Italian – British Seminar. The Magna Carta Committee of the Rule of Law Institute of Australia launched the exhibition “To None Will We Deny Justice” in the Public Hall at the High Court of Australia on the 13th May 2015. On the 8th June 2015, the Italian Cultural Institute of London will host the 10th ItalianBritish Conversation. This year the focus will be “The Constitutional Heritage of Magna Carta”. The exhibition was opened by Professor Nicholas Cowdery AM QC, Chair of the Committee. Prior to the opening 400 students had already experienced the exhibition and many thousands more are expected to visit leading up to the 800th Anniversary on the 15th of June. The seminar, co-organised by the Italian Cultural Institute, the Devolution Club and the UK Constitutional Law Association, under the High Patronage of the President of the Italian Republic, is focused on the constitutional legacy of the document that was sealed on the 15th June by King John. Though drafted in a clear context of feudal rebellion, Magna Carta gave room to the idea of individual freedom and limitation of the power, one of the cornerstones of all contemporary democracies. Featuring numerous colourful illustrations (pictured) and depictions of historical events surrounding the grant of Magna Carta, the exhibition provides students with activities where they learn about central principles such as the Rule of Law, power and governance, and criminal punishment. The exhibition launch followed a lecture by Professor Paul Brand, of English Legal History from All Souls College, Oxford. Professor Brand was welcomed by the Honourable Chief Justice of the High Court of Australia, Robert French AC, and was introduced by a Justice of the High Court, the Honourable Kenneth Hayne AC. Professor Brand’s lecture was entitled “Magna Carta and the Development of the Common Law” and provided an account of the Magna Carta’s central role in the history of the Common Law in the context of Medieval England. The lecture and exhibition launch were attended by the Justices of the High Court of Australia, the High Commissioners for the United Kingdom, Singapore and Canada, the Chief Justice of the Australian Capital Territory, and many other distinguished guests. How far can a Royal Charter written in early 13th Century be considered fundamental to building modern freedoms? The speakers will be Professor Maurizio Fioravanti, a legal historian at the Unviersity of Firenze, Florence, Italy, and Nicholas Bamforth, Fellow in Law, Queen’s College Oxford. The Seminar will be introduced by Professor Alessandro Torre, Constitutional Lawyer from Bari, Italy, and President of the Devolution Club. Sebastian Payne, of the UK Constitutional Law Association, will serve as Chair. The lectiones will be discussed by Peter Leyland, a constitutional lawyer from London. Click here for more information about Magna Carta and Australia. 13 magnacarta800th.com Newsletter / Issue 16 June 2015 Arundel Castle Celebrates Magna Carta Arundel Castle in West Sussex (pictured) is to host an exhibition exploring the role that Magna Carta has played throughout its history. Keen to maintain the Castle’s reverence for Magna Carta, this year its exhibition will be dedicated to the historic Charter. The exhibition will contain letters, photographs and other material from the Duke of Norfolk’s Library and Archives. The famous clause 13, ‘To no one will we sell, to no one deny or delay right of justice’ came to be seen as the foundation of English Liberty and freedom in subsequent centuries – with Charles Howard, the 11th Duke of Norfolk, a keen supporter of this. Castle Manager Bryan McDonald comments: “The significance of Magna Carta has not waned in the 800 years since its confirmation. It feels particularly fitting that Arundel Castle should commemorate its 800th anniversary, even if not on the same scale as Charles Howard’s celebrations of the 600th anniversary in 1815! We hope that our visitors will enjoy the opportunity to explore some of the treasures from Arundel Castle’s Archives and learn more about how Magna Carta influenced the Castle’s history.” With his political ideals of liberty and justice in mind, the 11th Duke opted for a Gothic restoration of Arundel Castle in the 1790s, including a carved stone relief of King Alfred instituting Trial by Jury. The great Barons’ Hall at Arundel Castle was originally built by the Duke in commemoration of the Magna Carta Barons. He also hosted a lavish party at Arundel Castle in 1815 to commemorate the 600th anniversary or Magna Carta. For more information about Arundel Castle and its events, visit www.arundelcastle.org. 14 magnacarta800th.com Newsletter / Issue 16 June 2015 The Devon & Somerset Law Society (DASLS) Lord Bates – a Magna Carta Pilgrimage The DASLS has announced a programme of events to celebrate the 800th anniversary of the sealing of Magna Carta. This includes a lecture from the former Attorney General, the Right Honourable Dominic Grieve QC, on the 12th June. Other events include: Thursday 11th June: Presentation of essay prizes, sponsored by Browne Jacobson, Exeter Guildhall Lord (Michael) Bates’, a Minister at the Home Office and former MP, is marking the anniversary with a twenty-five mile walk from Runnymede to Westminster. Magna Carta is the foundation of our liberty and our parliament. Michael has undertaken a number of long distance walks; in 2011 he walked 3,000 miles from Olympia, Greece, to London and in 2014 he walked 1,000 miles from Westminster to Berlin. Sunday 14th June: Legal Sunday Service and procession of legal dignitaries. Procession commences 11.20 am followed by a Reception for all participants at the Corn Exchange, Exeter, hosted by the High Sheriff of Devon & DASLS. Lord Bates, pictured, said, “Each person will want to reflect the significance of Magna Carta’s anniversary in their own way. For me that way is walking between two cornerstones of our great country.” Friday 12th June – Tuesday 16th June: Exhibition of historic documents at, Exeter Cathedral (pictured) Click here for more information about Magna Carta and Parliament. Wednesday 3rd June: Exeter Magna Carta Legal Walk (www.swist.org.uk) Thursday 11th June : MOOT, a legal debate for law students. 5-7pm, Exeter Guildhall For further information please contact: Tony Steiner DASLS, 01392 366 333 Click here to find out more about Magna Carta and Exeter. Magna Carta 800 Medway Conference – The Human Rights Office 15th – 19th June Preparations are nearing completion for this educational conference. It will include an exhibition and workshops focused on understanding human rights, the Rule of Law and the development of both across history. A key objective of the project is to link this historic event to the role of citizenship, with an international focus. Click here for more information. New list of Battlefields sites developed by the Battlefields Trust A comprehensive list of Magna Carta Battlefields has been developed by the Battlefields Trust. The list, part of the Magna Carta 800th Battlefields project, covers more than sixty sites of importance and can be viewed here on our website. 15 magnacarta800th.com Newsletter / Issue 16 June 2015 Magna Carta exhibition opens in Durham city ‘Magna Carta and the Changing face of Revolt’ explores the Charter as part of a long history of rebellion. The exhibition will run from the 1st June to 31st August 2015, at Durham University’s Palace Green Library, in the heart of Durham City’s UNESCO World Heritage site. The exhibition evaluates the contested identity of the ‘citizen’, and features key moments in history such as the Wars of the Roses, the Great Reform Acts, and the Suffragette movement. Magna Carta Trails Commemorate Magna Carta’s 800th Anniversary with a trip through the historical sites which played major roles in the birth of the Great Charter. • Trail 1: London to Windsor Includes the City of London, British Library, Runnymede, Windsor and Odiham. • Trail 2: Salisbury and Wiltshire Includes Salisbury, Stonehenge and Trowbridge. • Trail 3: Cathedral Cities of the North Includes Lincoln, York, Cartmel, and Durham. • Trail 4: Kent and East Sussex Includes Canterbury, Faversham, Rochester, Dover Castle and Pevensey. • Trail 5: East of England Includes St Albans, Bury St Edmunds, Framlingham, Norwich. • Trail 6: The Heart of England Includes Oxford, Worcester, Evesham, and Hereford. On display will be the only surviving copy of the 1216 issue of Magna Carta, on loan from the collections of Durham Cathedral. The unique Charter will be shown alongside objects from Durham University’s collections and loans from other regional and national museums and libraries. These include: The Great Reform Act of 1832 (properly known as An Act to amend the Representation of the People in England and Wales) from the Parliamentary Archives. The beautiful Bosworth Cross of Richard III, from the collections of the Society of Antiquaries, London. An impressive set of over 100 coins from the Breckenbrough Hoard, from York Museums Trust. The Lacock Cup – a rare survival of a beautifully crafted medieval feasting cup, from the British Museum. Click here for more information about Magna Carta and Durham. 16 magnacarta800th.com Newsletter / Issue 16 June 2015 Books There are many books being released this year to mark the 800th anniversary of Magna Carta. All books here can be viewed, with more information provided, on our books section on our website. Magna Carta Chronicle: Young Person’s Guide to 800 Years in the Fight for Freedom Christopher Lloyd and Patrick Skipworth What on Earth Publishing (Launching 21 April 2015) www.whatonearthbooks.com £8.99 The Magna Carta Chronicle, written as if the day following the “King’s Fate sealed at Runnymede”, by the ‘Royal Correspondent’ on 16 June 1215, to “Crowds gather to mark 800 years in the fight for freedom and rights” by the home affairs correspondent, Runnymede, Windsor, June 16, 2015 – spectacular illustrated time line of 800 years of the Rule of Law and human rights. Magna Carta: The Foundation of Freedom 1215-2015 Magna Carta: Nicholas Vincent, Editor and Contributor, Third Millennium Publishing, (1 April 2015) £24.50 pb, £29.50 hb With Nicholas Vincent leading off with the law before Magna Carta, Plantagenet tyranny, King John, etc., joining with other leading Magna Carta scholars, including David Carpenter, Anthony Musson, Justin Champion, Joyce Lee Malcolm (on America’s entrenchment) and others plus outstanding illustrations, this book is the gold standard of the breadth and depth of both a fabulous ‘coffee table’ book and serious scholarship. Outstandingly written and illustrated. Makes a splendid gift. Fantastic timeline, fun and informative, 11-14 year olds. Magna Carta and the Rule of Law This book was written by a distinguished international group of scholars and features a foreword by Former U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor. Dan Magraw is a member of the American Bar Association and a member of the Magna Carta 800th Anniversary Commemoration Committee, alongside former American Bar Association President Stephen Zacks. Magna Carta Carpenter, David David Carpenter’s commentary draws on new discoveries to provide a comprehensive assessment of Magna Carta and its relevance in legal and political issues. 17 magnacarta800th.com Newsletter / Issue 16 June 2015 800th Commemorative Merchandise We have a wide range of Magna Carta 800th commemorative products available for sale at our exclusive online shop: 3 www.magnacarta800th.com/shop Tea Towel You are able to purchase single items or large quantities and our production partners are happy to discuss trade supplies and co-branding opportunities. A proportion of the sale from every purchase goes to the Magna Carta Trust to support the 800th commemoration activities. Pen & Notebook £45 £6 The Great Charter of the Liberties of England Book Magna Carta Facsimile Script Black Mug £1500 £6 The Seal of Magna Carta Replica £20 £13 USB Drive Gold Metal Keyring Gold Metal Lapel Pin Gold Metal Cufflinks £8 £6 £6 £10 Laptop Bag £20 Silver Money Clip Black Umbrella £20 £90 Polo Top Rugby Top £25 £30 Check our Exclusive Magna Carta deal at: www.radissonblu-edwardian.com/magnacarta 18
© Copyright 2024