Message from The Lord-Lieutenant of Rutland

The following message has been issued by Lord-Lieutenant of Rutland Dr Sarah Furness

Thank you to everybody supporting our Rutland Community through this difficult time. I am so impressed (but not unduly surprised) with the altruism and community spirit that has been shown as a response to Coronavirus in Rutland. It has come from all quarters. I would also like to congratulate Rutland County Council who are doing an outstanding job in difficult circumstances.

Sadly many of the Lieutenancy plans for a celebration of VE Day have had to be cancelled, postponed or changed thanks to Covid-19. There had been such great plans. We will hope to celebrate with a Party in the Park, a parade and a gathering to raise a toast next year. However, this year there will be two Covid-19 appropriate, socially distant, celebrations for VE day which is on Friday May 8th. There will also be a virtual service on Sunday May 10th. I would be really grateful if you could alert all in your parish to these.

First, please encourage everyone to enter a competition for the best decorated windows to celebrate VE Day. All the information is on this link. www.rutlandradio.co.uk/events/virtual-ve-day/.  Rutland Radio are supporting this with me, the High Sheriff and RCC. There will be prizes for the best and many will be featured in the run up to May 8th.

Secondly, I am suggesting that at 3pm on May 8th (when I would have led Rutland’s celebrations, along with other Lord-Lieutenants in their respective counties, by raising a toast) everyone in Rutland raises a glass or a cup of tea/coffee, waves a flag if they have one (or can make one) and cheers from their windows or front gardens, rather as they do clapping for Care Workers on a Thursday evening. It would be good to have a county wide celebration on the day.

Thirdly, there will be a special church service broadcast on Sunday May 10th at 10.30am. I will be reading a tribute. The service can be accessed on http://oakhamteam.uk

Please everyone keep safe! Spring is here and summer not far off.

 

Dr Sarah Furness PhD
Her Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Rutland