Magna Carta fever is about to infect St Albans and Harpenden.


The festivities kick off in August, commemorating the fact that the Magna Carta was drafted in St Albans in 2013 We will hearing about and celebrating that great event in our island history for the next two years.  Looking at the programme I see there are a great many Medieval themed events – by the end of the two years, we’ll either all be donning our re-enactment costumes for a mass parade, or heartily sick of all things Medieval.


It was with that in mind that I decided that my personal contribution to the Magna Carta celebrations would be about Boudicca (the warrior queen formerly known as Boadicea).  The play I’ve written on the subject, which goes into rehearsal this week, and will be at the Maltings in early September,  deals with the question – what price freedom? In her bid for freedom Boudicca   destroyed so much Rome had built, and finally lost everything.  Was it worth it, her enemy asks? Boudicca’s response is a resounding, Yes! Even if she had known the tragic outcome, she would do it all again. No price is too high for freedom.


Christians are pastmasters are dealing with apparent failure. Our faith is based on a complete disaster – the ignominious death of the leader, and the centuries’ long brutal suppression of his followers. Yet, we kept the flame alive, as our mothers and fathers kept Boudicca’s flame alive, leading through Magna Carta, to the great, and wonderful freedoms we enjoy today. We do not have to fight and die for freedom, because they did. Keep the faith, and keep the Faith!


Imogen de  la Bere is a writer living in St Albans. She can be contacted on delaberi@gmail.com