HISTORIC COMMEMORATION RETURNS AFTER COVID
One of the area’s oldest charities will be remembering their benefactor after a two year break due to Covid, when the trustees of the Sir Samuel Mico Charities gather on Friday at 1100 (8th April) at St Marys Church, Weymouth, for the annual commemoration as written by Sir Samuel’s in his will 357 years ago in 1665.
Despite COVID the trustees have carried on supporting the young people of Weymouth and Portland with scholarships, tools for apprentices, grants for those undertaking further educational studies at college and university and other projects to develop the areas young people.
Mico’s will set out that the trustee and beneficiaries should attend a service on the Friday before Palm Sunday to hear a sermon by a “good divine” and afterwards should enjoy refreshment and trustees should receive reports from the beneficiaries on their progress.
This year trustees will be joined by HM Lord Lieutenant of Dorset Angus Campbell Esq, the Chair of Dorset Council Cllr Val Pothecary, Mayor of Weymouth Cllr Colin Huckle, The Weymouth Town Clerk Jane Biscombe, Mayor of Portland Cllr Sandy West and Mayor of Chickerell Cllr Mrs Elspeth Turner as well as the Freeman and Alderman of Weymouth & Portland.
After the service the mace bearers of Weymouth will lead the trustees, VIPS and beneficiary down St Mary Street and on to the quay where they will end at The George Inn on the Quay for refreshments. All will be in their official colourful regalia and will be a traditional spectacle only seen once a year in Weymouth.
Gary Hepburn, Chairman of the Trust said “It is great to once again to be able to mark Sir Samuel Mico’s bequest to the young people of Weymouth and Portland after having to cancel the commemoration for the last two years due to COVID.
Despite Covid we have however continued Sir Samuel Mico’s wishes and helped 116 young people from Weymouth and Portland with all sorts of educational and other actives since February 2020.
We are also grateful to Weymouth Town Council who this year will be lighting up the Jubilee Clock on Friday evening in Green and Yellow in honour of Sir Samuel Mico.
We look forward to friends old and new joining us at the service and continuing this great tradition marking the amazing bequest of Sir Samuel Mico which after 357 years helps more young people than ever ”
The commemoration service is an annual event laid down in Mico’s will of 1665, when a laurel wreath is placed beneath his coat of arms in St Mary’s Church. Mico decreed in his will that an annual service should be held in the parish church and a ”good divine” (vicar) should preach and afterwards the trustees and beneficiaries gather for lemonade, wine & hot cross buns and beneficiaries should report to the trustees on their progress
