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Norwich Magazine: A Godless City? November 2011
In the UK Census of 2001 27.8% of respondents stated they were of ”no religion” This statistic was the highest in England. For a city with two cathedrals and 32 pre Reformation churches (more than any other city North of the Alps) this figure is surprising. Ten years on much has changed; the Catholic Cathedral’s pews are packed out with the sounds of many East European migrants and the influx of international students from the nearby University of East Anglia. Alongside are other forms of Christianity attracting a new following as well as Buddhism, Islam and faiths from around the world.
All busted up.
Sorry….. due to some horrible little oik in a darkened room somewhere, on of the bits that runs the site has gone horribly wrong!
Normal service should resume later. In the meantime I can be called on +44 (0) 7966 173 930 or mail*at*jasonbye.com
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Thanks
Jason
Roma Gypsy King Election
With a gold crown perched jauntily on his head, Britain’s first-ever elected ‘Gypsy King’ takes a bow. Ladislav Stojka, 53, was crowned after thousands of travellers in the UK’s Roma Gypsy community cast their vote in an historic ballot. Mr Stojka, was chosen from 19 candidates by representatives from 10 cities including Bolton, Leeds, Birmingham, Manchester, Bradford and London.
He was given a traditional crown and ‘old sticks,’ but left by sleek limousine rather than horse and cart to attend a celebration party with friends and family in his home city of Peterborough, Cambridgeshire.
Once Ladislav was officially named the winner, he sat on a throne as Miss Roma 2011, Maria Kalinacoba, 17, of Chatham, Kent placed the crown on his head. His coronation was announced at Peterborough Town Hall where representatives met to cast their block votes from each community during an election which lasted little over an hour.
Around 100 members of the Roma Gypsy community, largely from Czech Republic and Slovakia, attended the inaugural election ceremony.
Pictures published in The Times, Daily Telegraph, Daily Mail, Daily Express, Daily Star and the Daily Mirror.
