Generations unite for civic service

The new Mayor of Rugby borough, Cllr Sally Bragg, joined a host of dignitaries at St Andrew's Church on Sunday, for the annual civic service.
Cllr Sally Bragg. Photo: Jamie Gray. NNL-160629-115749001Cllr Sally Bragg. Photo: Jamie Gray. NNL-160629-115749001
Cllr Sally Bragg. Photo: Jamie Gray. NNL-160629-115749001

Cllr Bragg was welcomed into the role and chose the theme ‘dedication to our roles in life’ for the service.

She joined MP Mark Pawsey, Freemen of the Borough, former Mayors and councillors in a procession from the Town Hall to St Andrew’s Church for the service, which was led by the Rector of Rugby, the Reverend Imogen Nay.

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The service included a reading of Shakespeare’s Sonnet 18 by the Mayor’s Cadet, Flight Sergeant Matyas Golarits of the 29F (Rugby) Squadron of the Air Cadets, to mark the 400th anniversary of the Bard’s death.

Cllr Bragg also read the poem Prayer, by Poet Laureate Dame Carol Ann Duffy, to celebrate the year of Her Majesty The Queen’s 90th birthday.

In addition to traditional hymns, the service featured songs sung by Flo Bannigan and Emily Goodwin, who have been helped by Rugby Area Talent Trust, one of Cllr Bragg’s charities for her Mayoral year.

Rugby Male Voice Choir also sang You Raise Me Up.

Cllr Bragg said: “It’s a great honour to be Rugby’s first citizen and I was delighted to see such a full congregation.

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“It was also a wonderful opportunity for the students from Rugby Area Talent Trust to perform and be accompanied by the Steinway piano, not to mention the empowering voices of the Rugby Male Voice Choir, of which I’m proud to be president, and the church choir with their uplifting renditions of the hymns and the National Anthem.”

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