Worthing and local host families welcome people of all ages who come to improve their knowledge and English language skill. In the Great Hall at Westminster, I was placed in the front row with party leaders and former prime ministers to hear Ukraine’s president Zelenskyy’s speech. His clear message in English was heard and understood around the world.
He recognised Britain’s support against Russia’s war to end Ukraine’s independence. He spoke of the need to defeat evil and to bring about a world free from war.
Our country’s advantages include temperate climate and relatively moderate politics. Our time zone overlaps with the growing economies in east Asia and with the American power house.
The Crown Agents had an establishment on the front near Worthing’s rowing club. The first Salvation Army Majors I worked with went overseas to missionary service. Some of the retired Church of England clergy at Ramsey Hall had ministered in farther provinces.
Our Islamic Society brings together members from across the United Kingdom as well as from around the world, including the former Yugoslavia, Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines, together with many parts of Africa.
A century ago, a number of national leaders determined that secular states could help majorities and minorities best to come together as a nation. Mahatma Gandhi was on his journey to serve India at independence when an extremist killed him. Ataturk guided Turkey, now Türkiye. Later, the new Israel was fairer to followers of other faiths.
Recep Erdogan now has to lead his country’s response to the overwhelming tragedy of the earthquake that devastated Syria and his own country.
In the United Kingdom, we are the active heirs to growing degrees of understanding and acceptance of traditions and customs different from our own. Presbyterian and Roman Catholic in Northern Ireland now know much more about each other than they did two generations ago. The growth of integrated education has helped.
In Wales the Anglican Church was disestablished long ago. Our King’s denomination changes when he crosses the border uniting Scotland with England. Were Charles the First of Scotland, Charles the Third of England to visit Worthing this spring, he would be welcomed by our Mayor, Muslim in faith.
Whatever our heritage, together we can say together we are from West Sussex.
Many of our local restauranteurs, known as Indian, have roots in Sylhet, India 75 years ago, then in Pakistan and now part of Bangladesh.
In September this year, world leaders will gather at the G20 in New Delhi. The meeting may fill fewer stadium seats than the men’s world hockey last month in Orissa’s Bhubaneswar. Germany won.
When I visit different parts of India with elder friends, we witness economic and social development. Democracy, social market economics
The aim is to get just about every home piped for clean water and waste drainage, to have at least a nurse in every village above 100 inhabitants, and to help everyone share in the benefits that were once for the few.
