Prayer of Thanks to Our City

Read in the Council Chamber to the Mayor and Councillors of Brighton and Hove in May 2022

In this hour of change
We ride a wave of uncertainty

It sometimes feels like an adventure
At other times it’s a bad trip on a clapped-out ghost train

Yet our City holds us tight
Amidst great twists and twirls of time and tide

Swept up on air, sea, wind and water
Stacking bricks, bungaroosh and mortar
Crescents, curves and minarets
We ride together
Painted in cerulean blue
Printed in nostalgic sepia
Attacked by a hungry seagull
Splashed by the kindly waves
Home to bargirl, busker and beekeeper
Refugee and poet, prince and pauper

The wandering tourist will never know
That you fashioned the changes and the charges
And as for my pals… the bratty kids
We paddle, laugh and play
Gliding and riding along the front
While you… our custodians
Look out for us all
And knowing this I turn to you
And say thank you
For while the billionaire gambles
And the humble homeless sleep
The Council takes care of us all, day and night
And a councillor’s work is not easy

Today in this congenial chamber
I ask you to cherish our City
Caring for it like a friend
One that ages without dignity
Wrapped in leather, tattoos and tweeds
Dressed in purple dungarees
Unless its August
In which case it’s all the colours of the rainbow…

This is a moment of gratitude Mr Mayor
For your own brand of compassion and care
That held so many of us
During these two years of turmoil…
Thank you so very much

May your replacement be equally loved and venerated
Different and regenerated, like Dr Who
And like the good doctor
Unique throughout the cosmic universe
For she will be the Mayor of a magic City

In closing
Let us celebrate our optimism, colour and variety
With loving best wishes to our Mayor
Blessings to our councillors
And, of course the people of our City – Brighton and Hove

May we always feel connected
May we always belong
And may we always welcome those that seek out
The kindness and goodwill of this, our beautiful City

Thank you