June usually marks the celebration of Lesbian, Gay, Bi, Trans, and Queer+ (LGBTQ+) Pride in London and in many places around the world. Whilst the Pride in London parade was cancelled this year, Middlesex Cricket ran a series of interviews and content features to champion the equality and inclusion of LGBTQ+ people – not only… Continue reading Talking to Middlesex Cricket about LGBTQ+ Equality
Category: Personal
My final thoughts as Chair of Universities Scheme: Freemasonry needs to ditch 1950s attitudes
Today’s Universities Scheme conference at Freemasons’ Hall in London saw the end of my eight year tenure as Chairman of the Scheme, and provided an opportunity to reflect on the Craft and its future. In my valedictory address, I set out some thoughts about Freemasonry and the ongoing need for change, to better reflect modern… Continue reading My final thoughts as Chair of Universities Scheme: Freemasonry needs to ditch 1950s attitudes
Pride in London and my Queer journey – a personal perspective and response to @LondonLGBTPride
Yesterday’s release of the Community Advisory Board’s annual report into this year’s Pride in London, and the social media storm that followed, was an interesting and painful experience for me. Whilst the wave of euphoria that I have felt supporting the CAB from bi and queer friends, and from those who feel that Pride has… Continue reading Pride in London and my Queer journey – a personal perspective and response to @LondonLGBTPride
Why today’s #LGBTQ+ #PrideinLondon is a day of mixed emotions for me and for many
Today is Pride in London, the United Kingdom’s largest gathering of Lesbian, Gay, Bi, Trans, and Queer people together with their allies and friends and others whose life, love, or identity is marked in some way by difference. For me and for many it is a day of great celebration for the achievements of equality… Continue reading Why today’s #LGBTQ+ #PrideinLondon is a day of mixed emotions for me and for many
Diversity Champion: It is time for me to ‘come out’ – I am a Freemason
I like to think of my life as being an open book. Whether it be my membership of the Liberal Democrats (or even that I used to be a Tory), my passion for Rochdale Football Club, or my sexual orientation; it is all out there clearly on public display. I’m even reasonably open that I… Continue reading Diversity Champion: It is time for me to ‘come out’ – I am a Freemason
The ASA: I’m standing down as Chairman
This afternoon the following statement will be issued by the ASA press office, announcing my decision to stand down from the role of Chairman of the Amateur Swimming Association Group Board with effect from the end of this month. I came to the ASA for a very specific purpose, to lead it through a process of… Continue reading The ASA: I’m standing down as Chairman
Football Governance: time for an independent commission
Speaking at the Liberal Democrat conference in Glasgow, I called for the establishment of an independent commission, representative of the whole game, to comprehensively review football’s governance to make it more effective, inclusive, and no longer subject to conflicting vested interests. Moving an amendment to the party’s policy on football, I focused my fire particularly on the FA… Continue reading Football Governance: time for an independent commission
FA dismissal: Edward Lord will still lead the way in UK sport
Letter of support which appeared in the Daily Telegraph on 23 September 2014 following my removal from the FA Inclusion Advisory Board. My thanks go to all those who signed it. SIR – Having known and worked with Edward Lord, the inclusion adviser dismissed by the Football Association last week, we are surprised by the FA’s… Continue reading FA dismissal: Edward Lord will still lead the way in UK sport
Promoting Inclusion in Football: My response to The FA IAB Statement
I am mystified and shocked by the FA’s vituperative statement regarding my removal from its Inclusion Advisory Board, which seems to impugn my personal integrity. As an experienced non-executive director, I have always sought to work in an open and collaborative way with my colleagues both within the FA and beyond. To say otherwise is… Continue reading Promoting Inclusion in Football: My response to The FA IAB Statement
Promoting Inclusion in Football, a statement by Edward Lord
Responding to a demand that he stand down from the FA’s Inclusion Advisory Board following his recent interview with the Daily Telegraph, Edward has issued the following statement: The Football Association should welcome constructive criticism rather than try to silence it. There is no point in appointing external independent advisers and then gagging them from… Continue reading Promoting Inclusion in Football, a statement by Edward Lord