I was privileged to be one of ten Sustrans Liaison Rangers and of 150 representatives of other environmental organisations attending a reception at No.10 Downing Street yesterday.
The Sustrans crew hardly recognised each other in more formal dress than we usually wear.
Downing Street is closed off to the public and entry is through tight security controls. We had to deposit all metal objects, cameras and phones in plastic boxes before entering the famous door, which has the best surface finish of any door that I have ever seen. Should have asked Gordon which brand of paint he uses.
Another check there of our invitations and photographic identities before we entered the hallway, being then ushered by men in suits down some stairs to enter the garden where the reception was held. From the garden, bounded by the house which is L shaped at the rear with a high wall at the far side topped by several strands of wire (presumably electrified) backing onto Horse Guards Parade, we could see that the house is much bigger than it appears from the front.
We were served with wine and snacks (no tea and buns as in John Swan’s poem) and chatted with representatives of the other organisations - those being such as RSPB, the WI, Lakeland Countryside Rangers, and Woodland and Wildlife Trusts. All volunteers like us, more used to getting their hands dirty out in the open air than standing around in suits.
It was some time before Gordon Brown appeared. No doubt he was busy running the country and all that. He gave a speech in which he thanked all present for their efforts in improving their local environment and stressed the point that this was being done by us long before saving the planet became a popular subject. In our case Sustrans started over 30 years ago and much has been achieved in that time.
We also had a chat with Ed Milliband who seemed to know about Sustrans and then the PM came round to shake hands with us all and we were invited to enter the Cabinet Room, where he suggested that we might take a seat and perhaps make better decisions than are usually made in there (which is true!).
So, a day to remember, nicely summed up in John Swan’s poem, specially written for the occasion -
Les has gone to London,
For Mr Brown to see.
Number 10 in Downing Street
Tea and cakes for free.
The Sustrans gang attending
Best behaviour on
Looking prim and proper
All the buns soon gone.
4 comments:
A day to remember Les and well deserved. Did you leave a Sustrans card:
'Visited by a Sustrans Volunteer'
Congratulations well deserved.
In my imagination, 10 Downing Street is something like a posher version of the Flowerpot. i.e clean bar and staff with a posh accent.
Were any pictures taken? I can’t wait to see you in a suit.
Yes, photos were taken by the official photographer and will appear on the Internet in due course. They are downloadable with a special password which has been given to us.
Re suit, I had to lose a few pounds in order to get the thing on and also had difficulty in remembering how to knot a tie.
Well done Les, thoroughly well deserved. Surprised you did not stay to chair the next cabinet meeting. I'm sure they must have a Mavis cake maker somewhere? Cann't wait for the next photos. A suit??
Phil & Sue
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