A traditional paradigm shift.
“What do each of you want to be when you grow up?” my mother asked my two brothers and I one morning at breakfast. I was 9, and my brothers 7 and 5.
I can’t remember how Simon (middle brother) and I replied, but Jeremy exclaimed: “I want to be King” to which my mother responded with, “Well that can’t happen because you have to be a member of the royal family.”
I recall very clearly how unfair I thought this was, and hence the starting point of a now strongly held set of values all based on a meritocratic society.
So when my partner, (soon to be wife), Joanna Swash was awarded an OBE and an invitation to an investiture at Windsor Castle, (with a +3 guests), I had to question myself as to whether it was appropriate to go. And I’m so pleased I did for several reasons.
Number one was to see Jo receive her award and be rightly recognised for all she does in her community and more, for the UK economy as a whole. In addition to chairing the City of Culture bid (Wrexham came second, well done Bradford!), she also spearheaded the North Wales Investment Zone initiative, (and won this one!), which is worth c.£1.7billion to a community where this will be transformational. She’s also served on the PM’s business council, helping drive changes in education in particular, plus too many local initiatives to list here.
In addition, seeing around 100 people and their families also recognised, and the joy they all experienced, and hearing some of their stories, was a great reminder of how much good goes on in a world often portrayed as dark and failing.
The organisation was of the highest military precision (as it needed to be with so many service people receiving awards), and even the staunchest republican would find it hard to not be moved by the history of Windsor Castle and the awards system….. (several lessons for the EA Masters event on 5th November 2024!)
But most of all, despite the fact that my brother can still never be King, I saw first hand how “the girl from the chippie in Mold” (Jo’s first job at 14 was serving fish and chips and she often introduces herself this way), has managed to ascend through hard work and results, a position of CEO of a major business employing over 1,000 people and on top, be recognised for all she contributes.
So yes, we still don’t have the society I would prefer, but as I get older I see how some traditions do have their place – like many things in life, it’s the “third alternative” as Stephen Covey taught me, that yields a better outcome than just A or B options.
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