Mayor of London thanks Nelson Mandela for his support in helping London win the Olympic Games
Ken Livingstone today joined world statesmen, members of parliament, Rock and Soccers stars, Community and Business leaders and Coronation Street stars in writing a personal message to Nelson Mandela in the House of Commons book of tribute messages, the final part of a Global tribute that included a song by Joan Armatrading and a Poem by North London based Andrew Motion the Poet Laureate.
Ken's message says:
'For many years Londoners have had a special relationship with Nelson Mandela, whose dignity, vision and strength have been, and will always be, an inspiration to the entire world. It is a measure of his standing that his endorsement of London’s Olympic bid was the one endorsement we wanted above all others'.
The House of Commons book, the song and poem was the brainchild of the Camden based social campaigns network The Blue Sky Club and was started nearly 6 years ago to mark the retirement of Nelson Mandela from the presidency of South Africa. Since 1999 more than 1000 messages have been personally written in the book.
The Tribute organiser Nic Careem and his associates in the Tribute June Sarpong and Lisa I'anson will lead a delegation of British youngsters who will present the book to Mr Mandela in South Africa later this year.
Nic Careem founder of the Blue Sky Club organisers of the tribute said:
"This is the second time that Ken Livingstone has penned a message in this unique book for Mandela a 20th Century hero. When Ken was the MP for Brent he was one of the first to add a message in the book when it was displayed in the House of Commons in 1999. Today he did so as Mayor of London and we are delighed he took the opportunity of thanking Nelson Mandela for his support for our Olymic bid which undoubtly helped to secure the greatest show on earth for Britain"
The House of Commons book of messages has more than a 1000 personally written messages from a diverse range of people who include the British Prime Minister who wrote: To someone who inspired the world and symbolised hope for the future and another message personally inscribed by Kofi Annan, Secretary General of the United Nations said: Mr President, You have made an immeasurable contribution to liberty and justice in our world. On behalf of the United Nations, I salute you and thank you for your vision, endurance, and faith. Kofi Annan Secretary General of the United Nations.
The book also includes a poem specially written for the tribute by Andrew Motion the Poet Laureate who inscribed the words: That straight walk from the prison to the gate-that walk the world saw, and which changed the world-it led you through to life from life withheld, from broken stones with your unbroken heart. To life which you imagined and then lived, which once we shared in your imagining but soon shared in the present that you shaped: the life which gave each human hope its chance of turning into truth and staying true; the life which understood what changing takes; the life which showed us we become ourselves in part by watching you becoming you. Andrew Motion recited his poem to Nelson Mandela at the Peacock Theatre London in 2001 and the song specially written for the Tribute by the diva Joan Armatrading was performed for Mr Mandela at the same event who joined her on the stage during the performance.
The book also contains messages from a host of stars including Sir Paul Mcartney, David Beckham, Will Smith, Russell Crowe, Sienna Miller, Sir Cliff Richard, Chris Rock, Beverly Knight, Roger Lloyd Pack, Richard Curtis, Kylie, Renee Zellweger, Lennie Henry, Dawn French, Trevor Nelson, June Sarpong, Kanya King,
Lisa I’anson, John Legend, Janet Suzman, Heath Ledger and hundreds of other well-known names from sport and entertainment and politics such as Gordon Brown, Charles Kennedy the Mayor of London and the former Conservative leader William Hague. Countless Business leaders including food millionaire Sir Gulham Noon and chairmen
From:
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