Events Past, current and future
Jul 6-8, - G8 Summit in Gleneagles
Jul 5th Tuesday - St Clare's, Downsfield Road, off Cliveden, Lache, Mass 7.30pm, and Vigil before the Blessed Sacrament, 8pm - midnight to pray for the G8 summit outcome we desire: that it will start to MAKE POVERTY HISTORY.
Jul 2nd, Sat - Coaches to Edinburgh. MAKEPOVERTYHISTORY. LOBBYING THE G8. Four coachloads of campaigners from Chester and neighouring areas finally made it to Edinburgh, having left at 6.30am, queuing not too long for parking and disembarking around 12.15pm.
We all expected the 100,000 target to be easily exceeded but were astounded at the sight that met us in the Meadows: we simply couldn't get in at first, but squeezed through in dribs and drabs, some of us even making it to Assembly Point B!
Then came the hard part - queuing to get on the march around the city. It got very hot and tight in the press of people all anxious to move on , but campaigners are patient. Someone did lose their footing and fall down, and could have been injured, but a helping had put things right.
Some people retreated to the grass for a while and went round later, some never made it but all of us contributed to the astounding 250,000 total who turned out (the London Observer had this as 100,000, strangely close to the original target).
Well over 200 were contributed by little old Chester,many on our 4 coaches, some travelling independently.
One of the highlights for some of us was the Silence, beautifully observed - it helped that the word "Silence" was put up on giant screens, and that the organisers had gone to great trouble to brief people on the programme.
Some of us were lucky enough to see a little of Edinburgh in tourist mode the following day, and a few heard Cardinal O'Brien's inspirational follow-up to Saturday's events. He was clearly on Cloud Nine, but returned to challenging mood, when he concluded - "We have asked the question, now it is up to them (the G8) to give us an answer." Scotland would never give this campaign up. No-one was about to give this campaign up.
Proclamations in the Town Hall Square at 12.30pm by the Town Crier proclaiming the support of the Lord Mayor, whole Council, Bishop of Chester and leaders of the churches in Chester, followed by Vigil in the Lady Chapel of the Cathedral 12.45am - 1.45pm, led by Canon Trevor Dennis.
Jul 1st, Fri - UK takes over EU presidency Global White Band day.
Jul 1st, Fri - Annual Roodee Walk, organised by Christian Aid Chester racecourse, morning and lunchtime.
Jun 27th, Mon - MAKEPOVERTYHISTORY - The Cycle Ride
By 20 Oxfam members, from Oxford to Edinburgh reached Chester. They were delayed by an unfortunate bit of advice they had been given about section distances, but after some anxious mobile phone work, the welcoming crowd, the Sheriff, and reporters stayed on, and the Oxfam cyclists rode into the square, banners flying, to cheers and applause, along with local cyclists from local clubs, bike shops and Cheshire County Council Planning Services. The Sheriff of Chester, wearing his chain of office, and his cycle helmet ( he had sportingly come to the Town Hall by bike), gave a short address of welcome and chatted informally to the cyclists. Staff from Dial House, a disability rights organisation, served the Oxfam party drinks, and then "tired but..." triumphant the Oxfam party followed former County Councillor David Robinson, himself a keen cyclist, towards the Backpackers Hostel in Boughton.
A couple of the group were stuck for digs or a campsite, and David spontaneously and generously offered them hospitality at his home, without which they would have been in a pickle.
Jun 14th, Tue - One of the 24-foot MAKE POVERTY HISTORY banners moved to Hoole United Reformed Church,Hoole Road,Chester, a major local traffic artery. The other banner was put up on the Town Hall balcony courtesy of Chester City Council members and staff, to coincide with the Oxfam cycle riders' arrival in Chester on June 27th.
Jun 14th Tue - Novena of prayer for MAKEPOVERTYHISTORY, Our Lady of the Angels, Hooton. 9th final in the series in Chester Deanery. 7.30pm Mass.
Jun 6-7 - Meeting of G7 finance ministers There was good news on debt relief, but we will continue to watch for actual progress.
Jun 4th, Sat - 12-2pm. Silent, mobile, small-scale street event in Chester. A 24-foot MAKEPOVERTYHISTORY banner was carried by 12 people from Northgate to the river and round to Watergate via the wall, stopping at key sites for people to see and cameras to record. The very stones of the city cried out "MAKEPOVERTYHISTORY", and formed a tourist picture gallery with a special theme. It was published on this website and elsewhere as an example of a historic city proclaiming the message.
