Former Salisbury Mayor to receive Maundy Money from King Charles
John Walsh has been nominated by the Bishop of Salisbury
King Charles will give out his first Maundy money today (Thursday 6th April) to 74 men and 74 women, including a former Mayor of Salisbury.
John Walsh has been put forward for the tradition by the Bishop of Salisbury.
Two people from across the Diocese of Salisbury have been nominated, for their 'significant contributions to the lives of their communities and their churches'.
Churchwarden Val Potter from Dorchester will also be part of the ceremony in York later.
It will be the first time King Charles has carried out the ancient ritual of handing out the specially minted coins as monarch.
The Maundy Service happens each year, the day before Good Friday, which marks the Last Supper, at which Jesus commanded his disciples to love one another and demonstrated by washing his disciples feet.
John Walsh was Mayor of Salisbury for two years during Covid.
He also served as chairman of South Wiltshire Mencap and has continued to volunteer for them. He said:
“Our Cathedral, which in 2020 had just started celebrating it’s 800-year anniversary, had to rethink its whole presentation. It gave me great pleasure to appear online in support of the Cathedral and St Thomas’s our civic church, with Old Sarum in the background, as part of the celebrations.”
John is now a churchwarden at St Lawrence in Stratford-sub-Castle.
All the recipients of the Maundy money will be gifted two purses each: one red and one white.
The white purse will contain the silver Maundy coins, while inside the red, there will be two commemorative coins that symbolize the sovereign's historic gift of food and clothing.
This year, the coins will celebrate the King's forthcoming 75th birthday as well as the 75th anniversary of the Windrush Generation.
The Bishop of Salisbury, Rt Rev Stephen Lake, said:
“It is always wonderful to nominate people for this honour. This year, King Charles’ first year as monarch, is particularly significant. Val and John have served their communities with such dedication – they are an inspiration.”