Red feathers and other stories

A man and an image

 

Sir John Cass was a politician, so he needed people to think well of him. He had many ways of doing this.

 

When the formal opening of Cass’s new school took place, it was carefully timed to be part of a celebration of its founder’s election as Alderman. And it was a very public event – there was a procession from St Botolph’s Church to a public hall for a grand dinner. The children took part, and so did a number of the lords, City businessmen and churchmen who were on Cass’s side in politics. There were newspaper reports about the event, and it is obvious that Cass, as well as wanting to help the children, wanted to get the credit for doing so.