Remember, remember the 5th of November

It was a real privilege being asked by Theodora Children’s Trust to attend a reception being held at the House of Lords in their honour.

The Host for the reception was the Lord Speaker who welcomed the invited guests into the River Rooms at the House of Lords.  Baroness D’ Souza (the Lord Speaker) explained that the River Room was historically part of the Lord Chancellors residence within the Lords and now it’s official role was the sitting room for the Lord Speaker.   The Lord Speaker chairs the daily business in the Lords and took time out of a hectic schedule to pay tribute to the great work done by Theodora Children’s Trust.

 Prior to meeting us in the River Room, she had addressed the President of the Republic of Korea  (whose motorcade was leaving as I arrived at Parliament ) , Baroness D’Souza apologised that she had to leave to attend another function and bid farewell.   The next speaker, Baroness Thornton who has supported Theodora Children’s Trust since its early days in the UK,  informed us that the function that the Lord Speaker was rushing off to was dinner with the Queen. 

Dr Wonderpants then made reference to making her maiden speech in the House of Lords and again reminded us all as to why we support and want to help this fantastic charity. 

When I left the Lords, Parliament Square was full of protesters and police with the protesters trying to make some sort of connection with Guy Fawkes (it was 5^th November) although later at Victoria Station  I overheard a group of placard-carrying youngsters “I don’t really know who Guy Fawkes was, I think he tried to destroy Parliament or something….”