Thomas Wolsey was a clever boy, you know.
Not only did he rise from humble beginnings in Ipswich to become incredibly rich and powerful, he also knew how best to educate children.
And that was pretty rare 500 years ago.
Wolsey realised that young people learn best when they’re also having fun.
The inscription on the base of his statue in Ipswich says so: “Wolsey believed that pleasure should mingle with study so that the child may think learning an amusement rather than a toil.”
Well, the Wolsey 550 project team certainly don’t feel inclined to argue with His Eminence the Cardinal, so we’re determined to have a fun element mixed with the more serious stuff over the next year and a bit.
Some great examples are coming up in the next few days, starting with a fun, eye-catching way of launching a terrific Wolsey exhibition at The Hold in Ipswich, the home of Suffolk’s archives.
We’re absolutely thrilled that the star attraction of the “Wolsey’s Ipswich” exhibition will be his Cardinal’s hat - a bright red, wide-brimmed galero.
This is a real coup for the Wolsey 550 project and Ipswich - the treasured hat very rarely leaves its home at Christ Church in Oxford, where it is not on public display.
We are hugely grateful to our friends in Oxford for allowing Wolsey’s pride and joy to make what we believe is its first visit to his home town.
To mark this momentous occasion, we are planning a Wolsey-style arrival for our star attraction.
When the galero arrived in England in 1518, Wolsey arranged a huge procession into London - and the hat had its own carriage!
So, today (Thursday July 13), not to be outdone, a replica of the hat will be arriving in Ipswich by river, to be greeted by our very own Cardinal, as well as Ipswich Mayor Lynne Mortimer, local schoolchildren, and a fanfare of trumpeters who last played at the Coronation.
The hat will arrive aboard the Orwell Lady, and will be carried on a special cushion by two schoolchildren to The Hold. Wolsey would have loved the pomp and ceremony!
If you want to take part in the fun, meet outside the James Hehir Building on the Waterfront at 11.30am on Thursday.
The exhibition will open to the public from Friday, July 14 and will continue until Sunday, October 29. It will explore the important legacy of Wolsey, reconnecting him with his home town.
The Wolsey-themed fun doesn’t stop there, because on Saturday and Sunday there will be lots of activity on the Cornhill in Ipswich.
As tennis fans will know, this weekend sees the singles finals at Wimbledon, the tournament famed for its strawberries and cream.
As I mentioned in my last column, Thomas Wolsey is credited with inventing the famous dessert. Apparently he served it to his rich and powerful guests as they watched real tennis at Hampton Court.
So, to mark the big tennis occasion, we are holding “Wolsey Does Wimbledon,” with lots of fun on the Cornhill between noon and 4pm on both Saturday and Sunday.
The Botanist restaurant will be serving strawberries and cream, Briarbank brewery will have their specially-brewed Thomas Wolsey 550 ale, Pimms and Cyder, and Moments cafe in the town hall will have a special Wimbledon themed menu.
In addition, The Hold will have their “Wolsey’s Ipswich” Tudor trailer and free craft activities, and you might even catch a glimpse of the Cardinal and Henry VIII as well!
I’m sure Wolsey would have approved of us mixing business with pleasure!
To book tickets for the free “Wolsey’s Ipswich” exhibition, which opens on a Friday, July 14, go to www.ticketsource.co.uk/whats-on/ipswich/suffolk-archives-at-the-hold/exhibition-wolseys-Ipswich/e-orogpl
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