April 24th was the last town council of the current 2017-2022 session. It ended mayor Heather Williams's year on a contentious note. Up to this point, she had managed to steer the town council clear of controversy. This was rather counter to the Ian Lewney mayoral gaff; and the Gavin Harris two-year mayoral stint, where occasionally there were frustrations often concerning matters outside Harris's and the town council's control.
It's fair to say that the subject of the English monarchy brings with it the strongest of reactions, either very for or very against. West of Offa's Dyke, that is the reality. But I don't think anyone was prepared for the grandstanding of one town councillor who, with great intensity and even perhaps a little aggression, made it very well known that he would not support any such commemoration. The nature of the posturing was caustic as if this were the Welsh assembly rather than a council of a little-known town in backwater rural Wales.
It was left to the ever level-headed Menna Jones, deputy mayor (she of the same political persuasion as to the speech-maker), to calm, sooth and smooth. Such is the maturity she brings. She said that she represented all of the people of Rhuthun/Ruthin, regardless of their views. Here was an experienced town councillor who we are sure held her own opinions but laid aside party politics to be as representative of everyone as possible. The vote was five for a commemoration and four against, with one abstention. It was left to the amenities committee to decide what exactly the commemoration should be.
There followed a good ol' ill-tempered barney on Facebook, where many people seemed to miss the point and just read what they wanted to see.
Even The Sex Pistols' John Lydon aka Johnny Rotten, he of the 1977 no. 2 single 'God Save the queen' and now all grown up, now had a sense of empathy towards the queen. In 2017 he said he would 'sorely miss' her when she dies. This I guess is the view of many people who grew up since Rotten's punk rock era.
Last night, the amenities committee had a much less passionate debate on the subject of commemoration. There was no posturing. I suppose one reason for that was its members by coincidence just happened to be naturally inclined either towards the monarchy or neutrality. It resulted in one councillor against but the remainder in favour of a suite of relatively low-key commemorations. The chair of the committee was Menna Jones who, again, has to be commended for her level headedness.