For some years Alistair Lexden has taken part in the Lords outreach programme to schools, established by the Lord Speaker and organised most efficiently by her/his office (the post, created in 2006, was held by women until September when the first man, Lord Fowler, took over).
Alistair Lexden made his first visit of the 2016-17 academic year on 7 October. This took him to St Andrew’s Junior School in Hatfield Peverel , Essex which has some 220 children up the age of eleven. Their liveliness, good manners, and close attentiveness make a very favourable impression on the outsider.
A group of over fifty ten and eleven year-olds had prepared carefully for a discussion on the work of the Lords with the help and guidance of their teacher, using the YouTube parliamentary channel, this website and other material provided by the Lord Speaker’s Office.
They bombarded their visitor with questions covering the membership, procedures and activities of the Lords, showing a kind interest in his own role. How long did he spend in the chamber on average each day? (answer: about two hours). What did he enjoy most? (answer: the great variety of issues that come before the House). Had he met the Queen? (answer: when he received the OBE). Had he ever fallen asleep? (sheepish answer: once). With these and a huge variety of other questions, the hour’s visit passed most enjoyably and fruitfully.