Speaker Hoyle’s visit to Honiton Allhallows by Richard Foord MP

By Richard Foord MP

Those of us who live here in Devon are very proud of our heritage. We have a rich history of industry and textiles, something that was on full display when I welcomed the Speaker of the House of Commons to Honiton last week.

During my first weeks in Parliament, I've been stunned by how many of the long-standing traditions remain. Aside from the maze of winding corridors and the customs that date back centuries, the character of politics as carried on within the Houses of Parliament can feel quite removed for our present challenges.

Everything is prefaced with formality and niceties, everyone is referred to by titles and constituency names, and the Government has almost total control over what the House of Commons can discuss. Yet there are some traditions that I am very pleased to see remain – or indeed are being revived.

During his recent visit to Allhallows Museum, Sir Lindsay Hoyle proudly declared that he is determined to wear the historic lace jabot and cuffs that were designed and made in Honiton at the next State Opening of Parliament.

The intricate apparel was created by world-famous Honiton lace maker Patricia Perryman back in the 1980s, at the request of former Speaker Sir Bernard Weatherill, who himself was a Saville Row master tailor.

His successor, Betty Boothroyd wore them when meeting the Queen and South African Premier Nelson Mandela - and Michael Martin continued the tradition of wearing it at special parliamentary occasions.

And when Speaker John Bercow announced his plan to swap the traditional Speaker regalia for 'a business suit' and 'simple and unfussy gown', Allhallows Museum wrote to him asking for it back so that it could be put on display to mark our heritage.

Current Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle visited Allhallows Museum last week, on 25th July. Both he and I met Mrs Perryman to hear about how she spent 1,500 hours over six years creating the lace masterpieces.

Sir Lindsay said on the visit to Honiton: "I feel very proud that she would like me to wear it again, which I plan to do at the next State Opening of Parliament. It will be nice to resume this tradition and bring back a piece of history to the House of Commons."

23rd June is a historic date for Honiton. In 2022 it was the date of the Parliamentary by-election that interrupted 200 years of having a Conservative MP. In 2016, it was the occasion of the referendum on EU membership. And in 1984, 70-lacemakers paraded through Honiton, before the lace jabot was presented to the then Speaker, Sir Bernard Weatherill.

Designed by Tom Griffiths, a Honiton Secondary school art teacher and artist, the jabot features a rose, thistle, shamrock, and daffodil on the top layer – to represent the four nations of the United Kingdom.

The lower layer depicts a sprig of Honiton honeysuckle, two otters to represent the river that flows through the town, and local landmark Dumpdon Hill.

As the MP representing Honiton in the House of Commons, I will be returning the cuffs and jabot to the Speaker's House in London when Parliament returns.

Despite some of the far-reaching changes that we are living through, I will be proud to share in this traditional point of pride for Honiton.