Monday, 06 February 2006

PRESS RELEASE

Nearly 100 members and friends of the Peel Society gathered at Drayton Manor on Sunday to hear an extraordinary eulogy to the great Prime Minister by a senior Labour back bencher, the Rt. Hon. Bruce George, M.P. for Walsall South. Mr George explained that he had been a great admirer of Peel since he studied History at ‘A’ level. He quoted Peel’s famous speech from 1846 when he was defeated after he had passed the Repeal of the Corn Laws against his own party’s interest. Peel recognised that whilst he would be execrated by monopolists, he would be well remembered by those that worked by the sweat of their brow to earn their daily crust, which was now cheaper. This illustrated Peel’s concern to make the lot easier of all members of society.

From left to right Mrs Janice Morris Secretary, Nigel Morris, Vice Chairman, Norman Biggs, Chairman, Mrs Mavis Biggs, Committee Member, Mr Bruce George and Mrs Lisa George.  In front is the bust of Sir Robert Peel.

Mr George then went on to give a graphic account of some of his experiences monitoring corrupt elections in elections in Eastern Europe and his astonishment at how quickly corrupt elections can be turned into reasonably free and fair ones. He cited Georgia and the Ukraine as examples.

Mr George said that when we saw the enthusiasm that people in countries recently released from the yoke of authoritarian and corrupt regimes had for the ballot, it was sad to reflect that the turnout at the forthcoming election in Britain will probably be no more than 55%. This cynicism about politics, aided and abetted by the media, posed dangers for the future of our society. He urged everybody to vote to ensure that the legacy of what he called the greatest peacetime Prime Minister, Sir Robert Peel, continued for future generations.

It is 25 years since the Peel Society held their first of these famous occasions at Drayton Manor. One member who has attended all of them is the former Mayor of Tamworth; Miss Susie King B.E.M. Miss King was presented with a bouquet of flowers as thanks for her gifts to the Society, which are now on show in the collection at Middleton Hall.

End
Nigel Morris