Freshly elected to the Board of Selectmen just a week ago, Walter J. Dempsey is already embarking on his first official-yet-unofficial diplomatic assignment: serving as an emissary from Norwood, Massachusetts, to its namesake sister community of Norwood, England.
Dempsey’s mission involves coordinating plans for local participation in the upcoming Silver Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II in 1977.
A 15-Year Transatlantic Friendship
The diplomatic outreach was initiated at the request of George T. Mahoney, a town finance commissioner and former president of the Norwood Historical Society. Mahoney asked Dempsey—who happened to be traveling to England just as the polls closed on special election day—to stop by the greater London town to iron out details with The Norwood Society.
Both Mahoney and Dempsey have nurtured an association between the two Norwoods for roughly 15 years. Back in 1962, the pair hand-carried official greetings from Norwood, Massachusetts selectmen to English town officials to commemorate Norwood, Mass.’s 90th anniversary—a milestone Mahoney noted was “a step towards our 100th anniversary.”
The Proposed Silver Jubilee Tree-Planting Ceremony
In recent correspondence, John Yaxley, chairman of The Norwood Society (an influential civic and amenities organization encompassing historical and environmental concerns), put forward a collaborative proposal.
“What we would like to do is to plant two silver trees (the exact species has yet to be chosen) side by side and dedicated to the royal event and to the friendship and common concern for the environment and historical well-being of our two communities,” Yaxley wrote.
According to a report in The Norwood Review, the quarterly publication of The Norwood Society, the idea was partly inspired by the enthusiasm surrounding America’s Bicentennial celebrations. Organizers viewed the Queen’s Silver Jubilee as a unique opportunity to link their American friends with a living monument representing the enduring character and mutual hopes of both communities.
Mahoney confirmed that Norwood, Massachusetts, officials were thrilled with the suggestion and eager to cooperate in the dual transatlantic tribute, which is proposed for planting on Norwood, England’s Beaulieu Heights, overlooking central London.
Archival Note: This article has been dynamically reconstructed from the original public record print archives of the Patriot Ledger
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