Adressed to the audience for The Cinquefoil Walk launch on Saturday 24th April 2010.
Lord Mayor, Lady Mayoress, Ladies and Gentlemen,
I am so thrilled to be here today...sharing in yet another page in the history of Leicester.
Public speaking is not my forte. It would be far easier if I could sing these words I have written, but I couldn't find a melody to fit and I don't have my band...
My grateful thanks to all the people who kindly nominated me...I am truly touched to have been chosen and placed in such a prime position, alongside my fellow receipients and outside of the marvelous Curve Theatre.
There I am and will forever be, in the Cultural Quarter with people walking all over me--mind you, it won’t be the first time that people have walked all over me, but this time in a kindly, "soulful" manner!!
I am so pleased to see that my entire name was able to fit on the plaque!!
As I waited for my flight to depart from Los Angeles to come home, I started jotting down some notes for this speech which is when this thought hit me ...If Thomas Cook had not had the idea of organising excursions whilst waiting for a stagecoach in Kibworth, I may not have been able to travel the world to perform and sing the praises of our great city. All joking aside, the list of famous people of Leicester is astounding.
If I had seen this day coming when I was a young boy...I would never have believed it. This truly is a proud moment for me.
You know, Edgar Allan Poe once said..."Those who dream by day are cognizant of many things which escape those who dream only by night" And I am terribly proud to be from a city of day-dreamers...believers and achievers.. who continue to add so much to our city's history and promise to our future.
Thank you to my family members who were able to make it here today and share in this wonderful event. I am number 9 out of 10 children...The Leicester pride runs true and deep amongst the branches of my family tree and that is why so many of us have stayed close to home.
This truly is a special day for me in my life and I know my parents are smiling down on their Leicester Lad.
Thank you all for your support and for being with us today to see and celebrate the occasion.
God Bless You All
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