Harrow Council chamber is a wonderful tiny modern theatre with perfect acoustics. Our speakers from Harrovian Speakers (a branch of Toastmasters International) were fascinated by the lights and control of meetings. At Harrovian Speakers we limit speaking times with green orange and red lights, like traffic lights. But at Harrow Council they make do with only green lights. When the green lights are on you may speak. When the green lights flash you have one minute to go. When the light go off you must be off. If you refuse to go the mayor can stand up and walk out and the meeting is over.
Should a speaker be so irate that he attacks the mayor, the mayor is defended by the mace. The mace was originally a club, though now it is disguised by beautiful ornate decoration so you might not know its real purpose.
In 26 years of Harrow Council meetings the present holder of the mace has never needed to use it. Once in St Albans an irate person went to attack the mayor and was hit with the mace. This being modern times, the irate party tried to sue. However, the law was on the side of the man with the mace. So now, please sit down, children, and do what you are told!
(Many, well-behaved, school groups are invited to entertaining talks and walks around Harrow Civic Centre.)
Angela Lansbury, author, speaker.
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