Cardinal Pub: petition exceeds a thousand names

l-r Michael Elmer, Jo Siedlecka, Jane Lowe, 'Cardinal William Chambers', Dr Gemma Simmonds CJ, Dionne Marchetti, Julia Forsythe

Supporters of the Cardinal in Francis Street, near Westminster Cathedral held a photocall yesterday to mark the one thousandth signature on their petition to save the name of the popular pub. Names on the petition read like a roll-call of Catholic Londoners. Signatories include bishops and archbishops, clergy and religious, MPs and members of the House of Lords, writers and artists - among them: Ann Widdecombe, Lord Norreys, Lord Alton, Fr Christopher Jamison, (from the TV series The Monastery), Fr Wilfrid McGreal, Dr Gemma Simmonds CJ and many more.

The venue has been a traditional meeting place for parishioners and groups from Westminster Cathedral for decades. Throughout the years it has been given a collection of paintings, drawings and photographs of several different cardinals who served the Catholic Church in London - among them Cardinal Hume and Cardinal Manning - who negotiated in the Dockers Strike of 1889.

The managers of the pub, Samuel Smith Brewers, are currently refurbishing the pub and have announced that when it reopens the name will revert to its original one (given before the Cathedral was built) - the Windsor Castle.

Campaigner Michael Elmer said he felt the name change would be a loss to the community and an erosion of the Christian presence in the area.

Dionne Marchetti, who was a regular said: "I can't understand why they are doing this. I wonder what will happen to all the pictures that were there. I do hope they pay attention to the views of more than a thousand customers."

Teetotaller Julia Forsythe said: "I used to love going in the Cardinal for a cup of tea with friends after a meeting or Mass. It was a place I felt comfortable going in on my own. I am worried that it just won't be the same now."

During the few minutes the group was outside the Cardinal yesterday they collected more than 40 signatures from passers-by. If you would like to sign our on-line petition please go to: www.ipetitions.com/petition/cardinal/