June 22 - Day 79 - 'I reckon in this realm no one man, in wisdom, learning and long approved virtue together, meet to be matched and compared with him.'

June 22 marks important days in history for the lives of three very different people. All three of them, however, stood up for what they believed in and could certainly be described as living with their own consciences. The quote in the title is St Thomas More speaking about Cardinal John Fisher. On June 22 in 1535, St John Fisher was executed for refusing to accept Henry VIII as the Supreme Head of the Church in England. Not only was he born in Yorkshire but the example he set in the following quote is something we should all perhaps live by 'We should remember, in all the controversies in which we engage, to treat our opponents as if they were acting in good faith, even if they seem to us to be acting out of spite or self-interest.'

The two other people that today marks are Sir Robert Peel (father of the Prime Minister) and Robert Owen. On June 22 in 1802 the first piece of factory legislation, Health and Morals of Apprentices Act, was passed. It is sometimes called the Factory Act and was presented by Peel after Owen probably persuaded him to do so. At that time, labour was often 'pauper apprentices'. These were usually children below the age of ten who were orphans sent to the factories by the Poor Law authorities.

The Act attempted to improve conditions for factory workers and stated apprentices should work a maximum of 12 hours a day and ‘the rooms shall be washed with quick lime and water twice a year, and care shall be taken to admit fresh air.’ The Act, unfortunately, had little effect because it lacked any real means to enforce it.

219 years later and there are still campaigns to end sweatshops and child labour and organisations such as the St Wilfrid's Centre continue to try to address inequality. The 30th Anniversary also gives us an opportunity to recognise the many people involved in the Centre in the past 30 years, not least Mgr Kilgannon. He not only believed in the need for such a place but also made it happen and throughout the past 30 years has given St Wilfrid’s Centre his full support and has always recognised its importance to Sheffield and the number of people who have contributed to its success. As Robert Owen said, ‘There is but one mode by which man can possess in perpetuity all the happiness which his nature is capable of enjoying, - that is by the union and co-operation of all for the benefit of each.’

As I cycle home this evening and for the remaining 2130 miles, I will continue to be inspired and motivated by the team I work with and the way that they focus on the benefits that each client receives by coming here.