Best known for his annual duty of summoning the House of Commons at the opening of Parliament and having the door of the Commons closed in his face, Lieutenant General David Leakey CMG CBE, is Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod, Secretary to the Lord Great Chamberlain and Serjeant-at-Arms of the House of Lords. Every year he knocks three times on the oak door of the House of Commons with the ebony staff of office- topped with a golden lion- and demands entrance to summon MPs to attend The Queen in the House of Lords.
General Leakie spoke at the County Dinner of The Society of Dorset Men and recalled how he, The Queen and Prince Philip had been in a malfunctioning lift in the Victoria Tower on State Opening day, which refused to go down as required and instead took the three of them up into the highest reaches of the tower, before the downward control worked again! “The Queen showed her characteristic good humour,” said General Leakie.
ITV Downton Abbey playwright Lord Fellowes of West Stafford DL, President of The Society of Dorset Men, had earlier read the traditional message from Buckingham Palace. “The Queen was pleased to receive your message of greeting and Her Majesty appreciates your thoughtfulness,” wrote the Private Secretary. “Her Majesty sends her best wishes to all present at tonight’s County Dinner at the George Albert Hotel, for a most memorable and enjoyable evening,” Secretary Hayne Russell told 160 Society members and their wives, that a message had been received from the Sovereign every year since King Edward VII in 1908, except for the war years. The Society was founded in 1904- 110 years old this year.
Dr. Paul Atterbury Hon. DPhil BA [Hons.] is one of the UK’s best known antiques experts, playing a leading role for 24 years in the BBC Antiques Roadshow. He spoke of his first visit to Dorset in 1955, when his family holidayed in a British Railways camping coach at Wool station. This inspired him to buy a railway carriage at Eype, with no sanitation and only a cold water tap, although much modernised and extended subsequently.
He now lives in Weymouth, which had been his dream, “a wonderful town with a rich history. Weymouth is a place of such extraordinary potential, with the finest Regency seafront in England,” he continued. “I have become adopted by the county of Dorset and its rich history.” Dr. Atterbury went on to praise the Dorset County Museum- “one of the best regional museums in the UK. The British Museum is thinking of establishing outstations- what better place than Weymouth or Dorchester? Dorset is the only county in England not to have an inch of motorway- and we like it like that! Dorset is a magical county- people are very reluctant to leave- we don’t realise how lucky we are,” Dr. Atterbury concluded.
Lieutenant General David Leakey CMG CBE,Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod, told members the office was established in1350 by King Edward III. Returning from France after a successful campaign, the King had appointed his 25 closest advisors as the first Knights of the Garter, who became the King’s Council. Black Rod was appointed as the doorkeeper of the council chamber and the office has continued unbroken for 664 years.
General Leakie- who was educated at Sherborne School- explained the modern role is rather different, but essentially still the same, being responsible for access and security of the House of Lords. Some 500 policemen and security staff help control the access of over 15000 passholders, as well as visiting members of the public. He had been appointed in 2010 by The Queen herself, being received at an audience with the monarch- receiving the chain of office and the ebony stick with the golden lion atop.
At the conclusion of the County Dinner, Chairman Stuart Adam paid tribute to Hayne and Pat Russell for their excellent organisation of the annual dinner. He congratulated Captain Angus Campbell, who was attending his first Society function as HM Lord Lieutenant. Finally, the Chairman thanked Lord and Lady Fellowes for their always wholehearted support of The Society of Dorset Men.
Lord Fellowes responded by saying that they much enjoyed living in Dorset- concluding “the man who lives in Dorset has certainly won the winning ticket in the lottery of life.”
Grace had been said by the Chaplain, Rev. Dr. John Travell FRSA, who recalled it was St. Crispin’s Day, the 599th. anniversary of the Battle of Agincourt, on whose banner the Society’s flag is based. The loyal toast was proposed by Jane Stichbury CBE QPM DL, HM High Sheriff of Dorset. Colin Fry was the toastmaster. This is the fourth County Dinner to be held at the George Albert Hotel, Wardon Hill, near Evershot.
Founded 110 years ago on 7 July 1904, The Society of Dorset Men has a long and rich history, beginning as the Society of Dorset Men in London and aiming to bring together fellow Dorsets in the capital city. However, since the 1950s, the main activities of the organisation have been centred on Dorset. Today, there are around 1,200 members throughout the UK and all over the world. The President is Oscar winner and ITV Downton Abbey playwright Lord Fellowes of West Stafford DL. He succeeded Sir Anthony Jolliffe GBE DSc DMus DL in 2011, the only Lord Mayor of London to be born in Weymouth, who still lives in Wyke Regis.
The four objects of The Society of Dorset Men are: “to make and to renew personal friendships and associations, to promote good fellowship among Dorset men wherever they may reside, to foster love of the county and pride in its history and traditions and to assist, by every means in its power, natives of Dorset who may stand in need of the influence and help of the Society.
Michel Hooper-Immins
The President welcomes his guests to the County Dinner. [Standing, left to right:] Guy Rich; John Stichbury; Captain Angus Campbell [HM Lord Lieutenant of Dorset;] Lord Fellowes of West Stafford DL [President of The Society of Dorset Men;] Lieutenant General David Leakey CMG CBE [Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod;] Sir Anthony Jolliffe GBE DSc DMus DL [Deputy President of The Society of Dorset Men;] Dr. Paul Atterbury Hon. DPhil BA [Hons.;] Stuart Adam [Chairman of The Society of Dorset Men.] [Seated:] Emma Jolliffe; Jane Stichbury CBE QPM DL [HM High Sheriff of Dorset;] Carola Campbell; Lady Emma Fellowes LVO; Shelagh Leakie; Lady Georgina Jolliffe; Chrissie Atterbury.
Photograph by Michel Hooper-Immins.
