Appropriate music was dispensed by two bands, a police band,
and the town band. The Mayor took the salute, and thereafter we all gathered in the Hippodrome for the National Service rally. Much to my surprise there were two thousand five hundred people in the hall, and no inter- ruptions. The Mayor made a speech; the Bishop made a speech ; Captain Strickland, Conservative Member for Coventry, made a speech; Mrs. Hyde, a woman Councillor, made a very excellent speech ; the Labour Candidate for the Division, Mr. R. Crossman, made a compelling speech; we all made compelling speeches. The audience listened with attention and at moments with enthusiasm. Complete amity, apparent unanimity, prevailed. One had the im- pression that for once party controversy had been forgotten, and that upon this representative borough, upon this repre- sentative meeting, that state of peace had descended which comes from a sense of grave responsibility jointly shared. I was immensely encouraged.
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