Desmond Tutu's address to Stoke-on-Trent (extracts)

Desmond Tutu visited Stoke-on-Trent last weekend. The visit was part of a statue unveiling for goalkeeper Gordon Banks, who had inspired peacebuilder Don Mullin in Northern Ireland. In the eighteenth century, from Stoke-on-Trent, Josiah Wedgwood made an important contribution to the anti-slavery movement by including messages on his popular pottery.

It’s the small things, the small things…
Josiah Wedgwood. A medallion… “am I not a Man and a Brother”
What impetus did it have in Stoke?
And the ripples that it sent outwards
Several centuries later
So that Nelson Mandela could walk out of prison.
Isn’t it part of that movement for human liberty
That received a push here so that today we can speak of a free South Africa?
Small things.
Was it so small?
That Stanley Matthews should go from Stoke to Soweto?
It wasn’t just giving those kids an inkling of wizardry.
Yes, that, but maybe, just maybe it was that it touched one little boy or one little girl, making them suddenly get to know… I’m made for something better.
I’m incredible.
I’m created in the image of God and yes, the sky’s the limit.
Maybe…
Gordon Banks standing between two posts, wanting to be the best keeper and that touched the life of one dyslexic kid in Derry.
A little thing.
How could we know?
That touching Don made a contribution, so today we can see Ian Paisley sharing jokes with Martin McGuinness.
And we don’t keep having to pray ‘please God bring peace to Northern Ireland’… just ‘let the miracle continue’.
The little baby in the stable coming to tell us we are family.
No outsiders. All belong. Incredible. George Bush. Bin Laden. Palestinians. Black. White. Rich. Poor. All. Gay, lesbian, so-called “straight”.
God says I have no-one except you.
Help me realise my dream.
Your contribution is indispensable.
You can work to make this a compassionate place.
A caring place.