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Date: Sunday 31 August
Time: 7:00am
Location: London Bridge, (beginning from
non-Southwark side)
Sheep wandering across London Bridge are not an everyday sight,
but former High Sheriff of Kent, Amanda Cottrell, will be leading
six New Romney rams across the bridge, to highlight two Kent
causes.
She will be joined by HRH The Princess Royal's son Viscount
Linley, television historian and author Dr David Starkey and
popular TV chef Gary Rhodes.
Mrs Cottrell is allowed to drive sheep across the bridge after
being named as a Freeman of the City of London, and she is using
the event to generate support for
Produced
in Kent (link opens in a new window) and Canterbury
Cathedral.
As Patron of Produced in Kent, she is aiming to encourage people
to source food locally, supporting farmers and making the most of
fresh seasonal produce. As well as boosting the county's economy,
buying produce close to home helps to reduce the amount of miles
that food travels, and significantly reduces its 'carbon
footprint'.
Canterbury Cathedral, one of Britain's iconic buildings now
needs £50million for its preservation. Mrs Cottrell is hoping to
raise awareness of the issue through this event.
Only those awarded the Freedom of the City of London are
permitted to drive sheep across the bridge, which is an ancient
privilege dating back to 1237, when the first Freeman of the City
was announced. Other freemen include American aviator Charles
Lindbergh and Luciano Pavarotti.
Mrs Cottrell said: "As patron of Produced in Kent and Trustee of
Canterbury Cathedral I feel that both of these issues have enormous
national importance.
This is a unique and I hope, effective way to raise the profile
of both these issues. I am very much looking forward to the
event."
KCC Deputy Leader
Alex
King, (who founded Produced in Kent and is also a Freeman of
the City of London) added: "Amanda is an outstanding advocate of
Kent, and her support to some of the county's causes is truly
invaluable. This event brings a little piece of Kent to the big
city and helps get our message across." |