Dental Publisher Receives Maundy Money From King Charles
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- Published: Friday, 14 April 2023 07:51
- Written by Peter Ingle
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A dental publisher and former president of the Oral Health Foundation has been honoured by the King receiving Maundy money in York Minster.
John Siebert was president of the Foundation between 2012 and 2013, as well as being a trustee of the charity from 2002 to 2016. In a successful career in publishing he was, amongst other roles, chairman at George Warman publications, the publishers of the Dental Update and Orthodontic Update titles.
Maundy money is given out at different cathedrals across the country, a tradition that may have begun as early as 600AD, with the first recorded ceremony in Knaresborough in 1210.
On the day before Good Friday, the monarch distributes specially minted coins in a ceremony that in its current form goes back to 1952. Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh Prince Philip marked the Royal Maundy Service for the first time by giving unique Maundy money. The recipients are men and women selected by the Church of England to thank them for their service and support of local communities. The number of recipients represents the number of years that the monarch has lived, with the Queen’s first celebration in 1952 seeing 24 men and 24 women receive the gifts. Her Majesty kept this tradition each year, presenting Maundy money at every Anglican cathedral in England during her reign.
Continuing the tradition, King Charles III presented 74 men and 74 women with Maundy gifts. Recipients received a white and red purse during the service. The white purse contained coins equivalent in value to the King’s age. The red purse contained two commemorative coins, one for the King’s forthcoming 75th birthday, and the other in recognition of the 75th anniversary of the arrival at Tilbury of men and women from the Caribbean on the Empire Windrush, and their contribution to Britain.
Maundy money is produced by the Royal Mint and this year’s coins will be the first to feature the King’s official portrait. The white leather purse contains coins to the value in pence of the king’s age. There are silver one, two, three and four pence coins, which are legal tender but not intended for everyday use.
For much of John Siebert’s life he has supported and volunteered for charities. Aside from his work with the the Oral Health Foundation he is a trustee with the Frenhurst Furnace Trust, the Lightbox museum and Gallery, Friends of Chichester Cathedral and United World Schools.
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