D I A R Y
10th July 2012
Olympic torch
will pass through Egham & Runnymede
20th January 2012 : The Villager £4m Visitors Centre Bid
Volunteers have pledged their support
to create a lasting legacy in celebration of 800 years since the signing
of the Magna Carta. More that 70 people
shared their views on what a £4m visitors centre should include at a meeting
on 17th Jan and many offered to help
run it by giving guided tours and getting involved with other activities.
The meeting was organised by Runnymede
Borough Council, which is applying for a loan from the National Lottery Fund
to build the permanent Centre ahead on
the 2015 milestone anniversary. Paul Turrell, chief executive of
Runnymede Borough Council said
"It was a very positive evening in
which many ideas were put forward for a first class celebration for Runnymede
and
We will work hard to bring the project
to fruition by utilising the available resources from the Council and other
stakeholders.
We want to provide a local legacy so it
is important that local people have their say on what that legacy should
consist of."
The feasibility study for the project
is due to be complete by the end of January so we will be able to share further
information
with the public in the near future. The
Council, which is taking responsibility for the building of the Centre, is
proposing
to place it where the cafe stands at
information on the history of the site
as well as offering tours around the meadows. The National Trust is also
involved with
the project and is proposing building a
bridge across to Ankerwick on which stands a ruined priory and a 2000yr old yew
tree.
Referring to the global interest in the
Magna Carta, Alan Alderson, councillor for
"The idea is that you could spend
a whole day there. We are looking to make more use of the meadow and bring
tourists to the area.
There is no reason why it shouldn't
have as many visitors as
It is hoped the centre will be well
used by the Community, including schools in the area and there are also plans
for anniversary activities.
Sponsors are sought to help fund the
Centre. Email sarah.walsh@runnymede.gov.uk if you are
interested.
3rd November 2011 : Egham News
Magna Carta Trust receives Royal approval.
Queen named patron for anniversary
celebrations.
The Queen has confirmed she will become patron of the Magna
Carta Trust for the 800th anniversary celebrations
on the sealing of the Charter. Trustees have said they are
delighted with the news and 'greatly honoured' that
Her Majesty has agreed what they believe will be a major
boost to their plans for a global celebration of the anniversary
of the events on Runnymede Meadow in 1215. Welcoming the announcement, chairman of the
Magna Carta Trust,
Rt Hon the Lord Neuberger of Abbotsbury, the Master of the
Rolls, said: "On behalf of the trustees,
I am very proud that The Queen has graciously agreed to be
our Patron as we approach the 800th anniversary of this
momentous day in British history, the sealing of the Magna
Carta."
The Trust has an organising committee of volunteers which
has been meeting since last year, chaired by Sir Robert Worcester.
The Committee organised a launch event on November 12, in
2011, at the Magna Carta memorial on Runnymede Meadows,
and later at Royal Holloway University of London, which was
hosted by Lord Neuberger, with guest speakers including
the Rt Hon Kenneth Clarke MP, Lord Chancellor, justice
minister Lord McNally, the Dean of Canterbury Cathedral
the Very Rev Robert Willis, and the treasurer of the
American Br Association.
It is planned that Her Majesty will be present at
800 years earlier, as well as participating in other events
in the run-up to and during 2015.
A bid has also been made for this day to become a public
holiday.
On September 7 the first step toward securing June 15 2015
as a bank holiday, to be called 'Magna Carta Day'
was made when Eleanor Laing MP, chairman of the All Party
Parliamentary Group on the Magna Carta presented
a Ten Minute Rule Bill, which was supported unanimously by
the House of Commons.
Runnymede Borough councillor Derek Cotty is chairman of the
800th anniversary committee for
an affiliate committee of the Magna Carta Trust, which
deals with how the celebrations will take place locally.
Speaking of the announcement, he said: "I can only say
that from both a local point of view and for the Magna Carta Trust,
there was great celebration and delight that Her Majesty
felt that she would honour us in this way. It was what I had hoped for,
and to have it confirmed is very exciting. We're also in
talks with the National Trust about the possible construction of
a memorial bridge over the
The Trust has also launched a new website to spearhead the
800th anniversary celebrations.
27th October 2011
Including
40 local groups expressing interest in potential Visitor Cenrte facilities.
www.runnymede.gov.uk/mcconsultation
27th October 2011
Magna Carta suggestions : Egahm News
A survey has shown residents are in favour of plans to
improve the Magna Carta memorial as a
tourist attraction.
Runnymede Borough Council undertook the public consultation in the light
of
plans to add a visitors' centre and other facilities to the
site in readiness for the 800th anniversary
of the sealing of the charter on
The council received the views of 944 people, of which 87% felt
the current site, with solely the memorial,
would not be enough to meet the expectations of visitors.
Of those who responded, nearly two-thirds felt the
sealing of the charter was one of the most significant
events in
would be interested in a guided tour of the
and the Air Forces Memorial on Cooper's Hill. 83% of respondents said they would be
interested in going to a
Magna Carta visitors' Centre and 86% of people who lived
within 10 miles of Egham support the potential
economic growth that would be brought by more tourists
visiting the site.
The survey also asked people if they would be interested in
volunteering as part of the project,
either as an individual or with their club. More
information on the consultation can be found at:
www.runnymede.gov.uk/mcconsultation
8th September 2011
Cllr
Derek Cotty talks to Southern Counties about Magna Carta 2015 : 4min MP3 audio recording:
www.runnymede2015.com/mp3/SoutherCounties8sept2011.mp3
Epping MP
Eleanor Laing calls for Magna Carta Holiday : BBC News Essex
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-essex-14835423
7th September 2011
The Commons 10min MP3 audio recording
www.runnymede2015.com/mp3/MCcommons7sept2011.mp3
“I beg to
move that leave be given to bring in a Bill to designate Monday 15th
June 2015 as a Bank Holiday
in the
etc etc….
27-28 August 2011 
Egham Royal Show
Public
Consultation Questionairres
being
conducted at larger 2011 Summer events around
http://www.photoeyes.biz/events/eghamroyalshow/gallery.htm
22nd August 2011
Salisbury
Cathedral hosts new Magna Carta exhibit : BBC News Wiltshire
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-wiltshire-14619446
Mark
Bonney, Canon Treasurer said "Salisbury Cathedral is... extremely proud to
own the finest preserved of the
four
surviving original 1215 documents, whose clauses on social justice are as
pertinent today as they were 800 years ago.
13th August 2011
Magna Carta Visitor Centre proposed for
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-surrey-14515745
8th August 2011
Egham
& Staines News
Council consults
on Magna Carta centre
Runnymede
Council is seeking views on where to put a Magna Carta anniversary visitors’
centre.
9th June 2011
Egham
& Staines News
‘Clock is ticking’
on Magna Carta celebrations, warn council bosses.
Council
bosses say they face a race against time to put
800th
Anniversary celebrations of the sealing of the Magna Carta.
King John
sealed the famous document on
want to
build a Visitors’ Centre and shop on the site, with the aim of drawing vast
numbers of tourists.
A total
of £50,000 has been set aside for a feasibility study into the cost of the
festivities,
which
have been dubbed ‘MC8C’, should sponsorship money not be forthcoming.
A list of
potential venues to locate the Visitors’ Centre and shop has been drawn up,
including the Tea Rooms area
next to
Cooper’s Hill slopes, and Egham fire station; although, councillors are worried
the clock is ticking
to get the
buildings constructed in the next four years ….. the
article continues, with other potential locations listed.
15th March 2011
The
Mayor of Runnymede & High Sheriff of Surrey arrive by River Thames, to open
The
Rolls-Royce Enthusiasts’ Club – South of
www.photoeyes.biz/events/rolls-royce-rally2011/gallery.htm
22 November 2010
Winning photo
in the open class for the 2010 Runnymede Borough Council Photo Competition
Theme: ‘The
Magic of Magna Carta’
11 November 2010
Egham
& Staines News: Cllr Paul Tuley
DO COME
ALONG TO THE MAGNA LAUNCH
I am
certain your readers will be pleased to know that the lauch of the celebrations
for the
800th
anniversary of the sealing of the Magna Carta, as announced last week in your
columns,
Has been
made possible not only by the extreme hard work of the Committee chaired by
councillor
Derek Cotty, but also by a number of locally-based corporate sponsors,
including
HCL-Axon
Group, Crest Nicholson, Art Estates, Procter & Gamble, Wellers Auctioneers,
and
It will
therefore be possible for
to
council tax payers and on behalf of the residents I offer our grateful thanks.
The
launch takes place at the memorial site on Runnymede Meadow tomorrow (Friday 12th)
at
10.30am and is open to members of the public.
28 October 2010
Egham
& Staines News:
A
Visitors’ Centre and World Heritage status for Runnymede Meadows could be the
legacy of the
800th
anniversary of the Magna Carta in 2015.
The worldwide
launch of the celebrations will be at the Meadows in Egham on Friday, November
12.
As well
as the heritage status and a new centre on the Meadow, Runnymede Council is
hoping to get
an
additional Memorial – the current one is owned by the
Runnymede
Borough Councillor Derek Cotty is Chairman of the Local Commemoration
Committee.
He said:
“For all residents in
The
sealing of the Magna Carta will be celebrated by numerous countries across the
world who base their
constitution
and their law on it, and the interest is huge.
We have
an opportunity to be put on the map and we must make sure we do not let it go”
Other
plans include projects done by schools and a re-enactment of the sealing of the
document.
On
Friday, November 12, the Lord Chancellor Ken Clarke and the Minister of State
for Justice
Lord Tom
McNally will be two of the speakers. The event, open to the public, will begin
at 11.30am with
a formal
procession across the Meadow to the American Bar Association Magna Carta
Memorial.
This will
be followed by a lunch at
17 September 2010
The
Villager: IN BRIEF Magna Carta Celebrations
Councillors
in
Runnymede
Borough Council to explore making the 800th anniversary of the
signing of the Magna Carta, June 15, 2015,
a holiday
and providing the site with a visitors centre.
Cllr John
Fury said: “We are looking to provide a lasting memorial in
Democracy
started here and we want to make the Magna Carta experience meaningful.”
The group
is hoping to attract royal patronage and is also working with the Magna Carta
Trust, which is run by the
American
Bar Association, to acquire high profile names to support the campaign and to
drum up international support.
Visit 
WWW.RUNNYMEDE2015.COM for more information on the campaign or contact Cllr Derek Cotty at the
Council.
26 August 2010
Local press front page headline:
‘We want Magna Carta holiday’
Council Chief presses for national holiday to mark sealing of historic
charter’s 800th anniversary.
The committee plans to lobby parliament to declare Monday June 15th
2015 a bank holiday,
and ask the Royal Mint to issue a commemorative coin, or stamps.
Alan Alderson is a member of the national committee’s local panel, and said “we want to make sure there is a
legacy from the celebrations which is of direct benefit to residents of
the Borough.
All we have there now is the memorial. A visitor centre could explain to
the public what the Magna Carta is all about”
22 July 2010
Chief Exec of Runnymede Borough Council declares 'Months of celebrations'
(and hard work)
for the 800th Anniversary of the sealing of the Magna Carta at
Planning has started with a group of local stakeholders brought together for early
discussions.
They know that the eyes of the world will be watching in 2015.
The Magna Carta still has a great deal of influence all over the world,
especially in colonial countries
like
There is a national group of Magna Carta trustees looking at the
celebrations nationally and internationally
and now the process in
up to three months and it is likely that they will contribute a boost to
the local economy.
The group set up currently includes Surrey County Council, the National
Trust and
and local schools and public consultations will also play their part.
4 June 2010
Queen unveils 'Magna Carta' cornerstone
for
country's native peoples, attending a
performance of indigenous dance and visiting the
site of a future museum for human
rights. Queen Elizabeth, who is
on Saturday unveiled the cornerstone of
the new
which she brought with here from the
fields of Runnymede near
where the original Magna Carta was signed
in 1215.
"The symbolism of the Magna Carta is
now joined to the historical importance of a site where aboriginal
peoples gathered for thousands of years to
exchange views and resolve conflicts,"
the Queen said at a ceremony held at the
future Two Fork museum site.
The human rights museum is scheduled to
open in 2012.
over the centuries guaranteed the
liberties of the King's free subjects and restricted his absolute power,
thereafter becoming the template for
constitutions and statutes of many other countries.
30 July 2009
The four surviving copies of the 1215
Magna Carta were awarded 'Memory of the World' status
by the UN Educational, Scientific and
Cultural Organization (UNESCO) on 30th July 2009,
in recognition of their outstanding
universal value. With their Inscription on the Memory of the World Register,
the documents, held by the British Library, Salisbury
Cathedral and
Lincoln Cathedral,
join the ranks of some of the world's most
significant documentary heritage.
Mark Bonney, Canon Treasurer at
"Salisbury Cathedral is well aware of
the global significance of Magna Carta and extremely proud to own
the finest preserved of the original 1215
documents. Seeing this most famous of English charters, sealed
by an English King almost 800 years ago,
is for many visitors the highlight of their time at Salisbury Cathedral.
Indeed, we know that for 50% of our
overseas guests seeing Magna Carta is one of the primary reasons
for their visit. Its clauses on
social justice form the cornerstone of modern democracy and liberty worldwide
and are as pertinent today as they were
800 years ago."
The Very Reverend Philip Buckler, Dean of
"The significance of Magna Carta
worldwide cannot be overstated. In particular, its status as the
inspiration
for the
confrontation, Magna Carta will be at the
centre of a celebration of the universal values it created.
The Memory of the World designation will
help carry these values forward."
Chairman of the Magna Carta Trust Lord
Clarke of Stone-cum-Ebony, Master of the Rolls :
"There are few documents which have
had the resonance of the Magna Carta, the foundation of English law
and the first recognition that the people
have rights enshrined in law and that even monarchs' powers are limited.
Following the signing of the Magna Carta
on June 15, 1215, virtually every country in the world has sooner or later,
embraced democracy, recognised human
rights and espoused the rule of law."
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