Flowers Final 28:02:25 - Flipbook - Page 116
e all know that it is a common practice to lop a dead branch off a tree. We all know if you lop a live branch off a
at branch withers and dies. I am now going to stick my neck out and suggest, with the upmost diffidence and
to the Edwards County Historical Society, and in particular to the author of that family tree that this diagrammatic
to Edward Fordham Flower is a little unfair and misleading. He certainly wasn9t dead when he left Albion. And
m withering I can assure you that he and his descendants have flourished. And that over the years the English
have bloomed as vigorously as have their American cousins. So perhaps one day your draughtsman could amend
mily tree.
after his return to England, settled in Stratford-upon-Avon, in the county of Warwickshire, In 1827, and his
ate descendants have lived there ever since. He married a local girl and raised a family of three boys. Youngest of
ree boys was my grandfather.
founded a brewery in Stratford-upon-Avon, now famous all over the country for it9s beer, and which is still
d by the present generations of the family. He kept in close touch with his family here in Albion. During your
War, 100 years ago, he campaigned energetically at home to enlist sympathy for the Northern cause, although many
rcial interests in England were sympathetic to the South. He served two times as Mayor of Stratford-upon-Avon
eed each succeeding generation, including myself, have held this office.
s perhaps in the service of culture and the art that the Flowers of Stratford are best known in England. As you all
William Shakespeare, the greatest playwright the world has ever known was born in Stratford-upon-Avon 400 years
ward Fordham Flower discovered that since Shakespeare9s death in the year 1616, Stratford had done little or
to honour its most famous and distinguished son. It fell to Edward and the Flower family to put this right.
due to his inspiration and of the determination and energy of his eldest son Charles Flower that the Shakespeare
e was established in Stratford-upon-Avon in 1879 and ever since then there has been an annual festival of
peare9s plays, as a living memorial to the world's greatest playwright in his hometown.
ucceeding generation of my family in Stratford-upon-Avon has carried on this work, because we believe sincerely
spreading of the knowledge of Shakespeare9s plays, his philosophy, his profound understanding of mankind, is a
bind the peoples of the world together, in the pursuit of coexistence and peace.
e this will always be one of the most memorable weeks in my whole life, something I would not have missed for the
de world. When you come to celebrate your 200 anniversary and 50 is done, I hope you invite me again I will
y accept wherever I am, tho' you may have to send your helicopter aloft to fetch me - or maybe use a fishing tool to
me out of the other place. If both these fail, well, maybe Edward will be around to stand in for me. Goodbye and
ess you all".
