Lichfield Speakers’ Corner celebrates first anniversary

Speakers Corner. Pic: Nick Brickett

Speakers’ Corner in Lichfield celebrated its first birthday on 1 May with a special event.

The Dam Street site was launched in 2009 and became the second Speakers’ Corner outside London and has seen talks on issues such as Fairtrade, the Staffordshire Hoard  and skateboarding during its first year.

Before the event, Revd Dr Pete Wilcox, Chair Lichfield Speakers’ Corner Committee and Canon Chancellor of Lichfield Cathedral, said:

“To celebrate a very successful first year, we’re planning a fun community get together. We’ll be unveiling a fantastic new temporary sound sculpture by local artist Peter Walker and there’ll be talks by local secondary pupils. And, with free party bags and party cakes for children young and old, it‘s set to be a great celebration [of] the anniversary of the city’s new heart of public debate and free speech.”

The morning’s festivities kicked off with an appearance and introduction from the Town Crier, which was followed with talks by local secondary school students and a great cake giveaway at 12 noon that was hosted by Councillor David Smith, outgoing Leader of Lichfield District Council.

The birthday celebrations were eventful, with even an appearance from Lichfield’s Conservative Party candidate – Michael Fabricant – who himself got onto the podium and expressed his views on free speech and other matters raised over the course of the morning.

Politics was a hot topic of the event, given that the General Election was less than 6 days away. Topics discussed ranged from facts about Ducks to the possible risks of Nuclear Arms and the importance of free speech.

I was there to photograph the celebrations on the day, which are viewable below or directly on Flickr here.