Mayor of Worcester Blog

Monday 4^th: Theo Theobald was the winner of the Worcestershire Poet Laureate competition held in the Cathedral on 17^th June at the opening of the Literary Festival. He, the runner up Fergus McGonigal and Lisa Ventura, came for a chat in the parlour this morning. They are such fun characters. I am sure we shall be hearing more of them over this next year.

Jane and I were invited to the annual dinner of the Rotary Club of Worcester in the Worcestershire County Cricket Club. This was at the time of the President’s handover. It has become customary for the Mayor to be made an honorary member of the Club so I was inducted this evening. This was a particular pleasure for me having been sponsored on many occasions by the Rotary Doctor Bank of Great Britain and Ireland for my working visits to Uganda and Rwanda.

Tuesday 5^th: Twenty four students (aged 13 – 14 years old) from Stuttgart (Germany) Grammar School arrived for a tour of the Guildhall. They came with The Principia School of Language and since 2008 have close links with Christopher Whitehead Language College. They were courteous, attentive and interested: a real pleasure to entertain.

Peter Rogers brought two visitors (Benedicte and Barry Reynold) from our twin town Vernon (France) for a chat in the parlour. I am always so pleased to welcome friends from our twinned towns.

The Olympic Torch comes to the UK on 18^th May 2012 to begin a 70 days’ journey (“Olympic Torch Relay”). Worcester is one of only five cities to be selected in the West Midlands to host a Community Celebration event. The torch will arrive in Worcester on 24th May 2012. If you would like to nominate someone, who has made a difference in the community, to carry the torch you can do so online at www.lloydstsb.com/carrytheflame until 12^th. September 2011. Jane and I attended a touring mobile exhibition in the Cornmarket and had our photographs taken with the prototype London 2012 Olympic Torch.

We do not normally have two Full Council meetings a week apart. The one this evening was an extra for the special consideration of the paper on the South Worcestershire Development Plan (SWDP). As Mayor, I was in the chair. The debate was wide ranging the message being that this is a consultation document. At the beginning a member of the public spoke in the “Public Participation” slot. Fifteen councillors spoke each making significant contributions. It was overwhelmingly agreed that the SWDP should be accepted and go out for consultation in September.

Wednesday 6^th: The City Council quite often has students from local schools for a “Work Experience Programme”. I contributed to such a programme today for a student from the Royal Grammar School. My role was to tell him about and demonstrate the job of the Mayor.

The Annual University of Worcester Garden Party took place on the St. John’s campus this evening. These occasions are always enjoyable with the added opportunity to meet old and new friends and colleagues from across the county. I am proud of our successful University, the advantages it brings to Worcester and what it contributes to the wider world.

Thursday 7^th: Nine American students (aged 16 – 18 years) came to the parlour this morning for a tour of the Guildhall. They were from all parts of the USA and were visiting several towns in England. During their stay they are making a film on “British youth culture” under a title of “Experiment in International Living”. They were a real pleasure to show around and to be interviewed on film by them.

St. Mary’s Girls’ Preparatory School held its “Day of Celebration” today. It was clear that the achievements of the girls were outstanding with cups and certificates being presented. We were entertained during three interludes by a demonstration of music: yet more examples of Worcester’s musical contribution.

Lyppard Grange Primary School has amazing talent among its children. Their performance of “Archibald’s War” was fantastic! It portrayed the Second World War, the evacuation of London’s children to the relative safety in the countryside and the loss of a little girl’s teddy bear, Archibald, on the evacuation train. Eventually they were reunited. The representation of the events was a true reminder to the few of us who remember the latter years of that conflict. My mother had evacuees at our home in Sussex.

Friday 8^th: “King’s Day”: a day of celebration by The King’s School, Worcester, with displays, exhibitions and events. At mid day we enjoyed a Service of Thanksgiving and Commemoration in the Cathedral.

Saturday 9^th: The Valedictory Evensong for the 43^rd Wessex Association was held in the Cathedral Church of St. Peter in Exeter this afternoon. This was preceded by a reception in Exeter’s Guildhall given by the Lord Mayor. The Worcestershire Regiment, which served with the 43^rd Wessex Division in the First and Second World Wars, had been invited to this event and it was a privilege for Jane and me to join them. Time has moved on and very few of the Old Comrades remain so the recognition for the 43^rd’s will now be invested in the 43^rd Wessex Heritage Trust. After the service there was a “Sound Retreat” outside the Great West Door of the Cathedral. A wonderful day we would not have missed for anything.

Sunday 10^th: Jane and I attended the Annual Luncheon of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Worcestershire in the Chapter House of the Cathedral followed by a Service in the Cathedral. It was a most elegant and enjoyable occasion.

A quick dash home to change into something a little less formal and then on to Crown East Woods for a “Teddy Bears’ Picnic” organised by the 10^th Worcester Scouts and their Leader Nigel Watkinson. Nigel and two Explorer Scouts are organising an expedition to Botswana in July next year. They will be helping to construct a building as a base for conservation and working with local scouts. This is a most important contribution within the scouting movement and to international cooperation. They need help with raising the funds for this expedition so if anyone would like to help do contact Nigel (33, Barry Street, Worcester or telephone 078 2653 8112).

Monday 27^th : I was interviewed by Central Television for a story on refuse and cleansing highlighting the “Take Pride in Worcester” campaign. An opportunity to promote the “three P’s”: Pride in the City, Prevention of littering and saving Pounds.

Tuesday 28^th : We had a meeting today to plan the fund-raising events for my three charities (Leukaemia Care, Noah’s Ark and Worcester Farmers’ Overseas Action Group). There are going to be some exciting events so watch this space!!

I chaired the Full Council meeting this evening. At times it became a somewhat boisterous affair!

The Rev. Canon Ken Boyce, Rector of St Martin’s Church (London Road), is my Mayor’s Chaplain. He took this topic in “Reflections from the Rectory” in this month’s Parish News. The word “Chaplain” “comes from the cloak or cape (Latin ‘cappa’) worn by St. Martin ….. ‘capella’ – a small cloak….. – and from that word comes ‘chapel’, the closet or room where the cloak was kept safely. The “chaplain” was therefore the person responsible for looking after it”.

Wednesday 29^th : Ann Perry has been with the City Council since 1988 and the Committee Administrator from 2001. I was pleased to speak at her leaving party today to thank her for 23 years of dedicated service. Officers like Ann are crucial to the smooth running of our democratic system.

Jane and I were excited by the “Art and Design” Exhibition at the Worcester Sixth Form College. The boundaries of art are really being extended by the students. A great range of skills are needed to produce the exhibits and must help with careers in the future.

Thursday 30^th : Now that was fun! I opened the new hire department at the Ultimate Party Shop. Me raising a green fluffy top hat next to a mannequin: what will I look like in the photograph if it appears in the press?

Friday 1^st : I presented prizes and rosettes to the winners of the Oldbury Park Primary School who had entered the peregrine falcon art competition. It was such a pleasure seeing the joy on the faces of these 7 – 8 year olds. Our artists of the future! Caroline Adams of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) also came and gave a short presentation. Photos of the event along with the  winning artwork can be found on the Peregrine Falcon’s in Worcester Facebook page.

Saturday 2^nd : Passersby in the High Street this afternoon were freely entertained by a delight of music from the forecourt of the Guildhall. The Elgar School of Music put on a wonderful variety: something for everyone. The participants are a great credit to the musical heritage of our City. A collection was made in aid of my three charities. I am most grateful to Gillian Lumsdon, Head of the School. During this Summer the School will be arranging workshops and concerts in association with the Three Choirs festival and Worcester Music Festival. Information is available on www.elgarschoolofmusic.co.uk and telephone 01905 28613. 2011 is building up for a vintage year in music.

Sunday 3^rd : Annual civic services are key events. They celebrate local democracy and bring together local mayors and chairmen and women (the “chain gang”) across Worcestershire. Today was the turn of Cllr. of Wyre Forest District Council and Chairman Cllr. Stephen Clee. Jane and I attended a Mass celebrated at Our Lady and St. Pius X Catholic Church in Habberley.

Monday 20th: Our Armed Forces deserve all the recognition and thanks we can give them. So today Jane and I joined veterans from the Worcestershire and Foresters Regimental Association, with their standards, serving officers from the Army Careers Information Office and volunteers from 214 Battery RA (V) at Dancox House: we observed the raising of the Armed Forces Day Flag over the Guildhall. We shall fly this flag with pride during this week before Armed Forces Day on Saturday 25th June. As a family we know how important this is because Jane’s father, Air Vice Marshall Sir George Harvey, played an important role in the Royal Air Force during the Second World War.

Basket Ball, through the University, is a very successful sport in Worcester. Therefore I was delighted to welcome a delegation from the Lithuanian Basket Ball Federation. Mindaugas Balciuna (Secretary General of the Federation) and Tony Gouga, (the main sponsor of Lithuanian basketball) were accompanied by Mick Donovan who is Head of the Institute of Sport and Exercise Science at the University of Worcester. It is hoped that both the men’s and women’s Lithuanian basketball teams will come to Worcester for pre-Olympic training.

The Worcester Royal Grammar School has an excellent track record for its music. This was well demonstrated at the School’s Commemoration Service at the Cathedral which Jane and I had the pleasure to attend. The Headmaster, Mr. Andy Rattue, says on the school’s website “I am also very proud of our positive outlook and the balance we achieve between the serious and lighter facets of school life”. This shone through today and the Headmaster is rightly proud.

A fortnight ago I met the Editor of the “Worcester News” and said that the printed media was important for our community. So I was pleased to have an informal meeting with Tim Clarke from the “Worcester Standard”.

Tuesday 21st: Just because you are Mayor does not mean no other Council commitments. So today I had a meeting of the Smokefree Worcestershire Tobacco Control Alliance which is run through the Department of Public Health. As a previous Consultant Physician in Worcester I feel very strongly about the damage that tobacco does to the health of our citizens. We must do all we can to help those who want to give up smoking and make the whole population aware of the severe dangers.

Keeping in touch with the City Council’s activities is also vital. A regular meeting with the Managing Director (Duncan Sharkey) and the Leader (Cllr. Simon Geraghty) of the City Council is an important way of doing that… we met today.

Jane and I continue to be impressed by the talent of our young people. This evening we attended a production of “Aladdin” at the Royal Grammar School, The Grange. We were enthralled by the acting and confidence of these Years 5 and 6 pupils. They are a real credit to themselves, their parents and the school. Congratulations too to Mr. Gareth Hughes (the Headmaster) and his staff.

Wednesday 22nd: Thirty visiting French students (aged 15 – 16 years) are quite a handful when touring the parlour and Guildhall…a visit to the cells under the Guildhall and associated stories usually dampens the boisterousness. They were here on a “Language Education Course”.

The Worcestershire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust held its last AGM in Isaac Maddox House under the Chairmanship of Neil Lockwood. The Trust will now be dissolved and transfer its services to the new Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust. It was clear that a great deal has been achieved forming a firm base from which the new Trust can move forward effectively. I wish them well.

Thursday 23rd: Our City Council link with the Adentan Municipal Assembly (Council) in Ghana has been in existence for almost a year. This project, entirely funded by the Department for International Development, is progressing well. The team of volunteers, from across all parties, is advising this Assembly on “Local Economic Development” (LED). Already we are seeing outcomes in terms of locally established committees for LED, and especially for “Women in Business”, a first self-funding business newspaper (“Adentan News”) and evidence of increasing employment in small businesses. Today I chaired the Worcester team meeting to discuss the next phase which will include the production of a master plan for Adenta, training for business management and the establishment of a “Federation of Businesses”.

Worcester City is twinned with Kleve in Germany (see “Blog” 13th. June 2011) so it was a particular pleasure to welcome twelve students (aged 13 – 16 years), on an exchange visit to the Royal Grammar School, for a tour of the parlour and Guildhall.

“Worcester Live”, under the directorship of Chris Jaeger, does so much for the culture of our City. It gives us enormous pleasure, it educates us and it attracts visitors from outside Worcester which in turn contribute to our local economy. This evening was “Patron’s Evening” at the Swan Theatre. It was an informal gathering giving us all the opportunity to chat with Lord Faulkner (the Patron) and Chris about the future. The product of “Worcester Live” is for everyone: support it and enjoy it!!

Friday 24th: Worcester is clearly popular with Germany. Another group of 30 students (aged 14 – 15 years), currently on an exchange visit with the King’s School, came for a tour of the Guildhall.

Each year we look out for the peregrine falcons on St. Andrew’s tower and the Cathedral. Children love the event and this was shown in a display of art from Oldbury Park School. I assisted with judging the contributions from the 7 – 8 year olds. The other judges were Claire Williams, Erica Burlace (Crowngate Manager), and Caroline Adams and Sharon Boardman both from the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds. It was not an easy task. The winners will be presented with their prizes on 1st. July.

Saturday 25th: By now many will know that I have a passion for Africa and in particular for Uganda, Rwanda, South Sudan and Ghana. Therefore it was a thrill for me to welcome visitors from Chumbageni School, Tanga in Tanzania. It gave me a chance to practice my “ten” words of Swahili. There is a link between Chumbageni and Somers Park Primary School (Malvern). St. James (Malvern), Hanley Swan, Leigh and Bransford and Northleigh are also linked with schools in Tanga. Find out more on www.globalgateway.org.uk/default.aspx?page=3416

Imagine a ”group” of over 100 singers on the stage at the Swan Theatre with an enthusiasm second to none and a packed house and you’ll get some idea of the atmosphere this evening. Voices Unlimited Contemporary Choir was founded by Ria Keen and Anne Bradshaw in 2008. They entertained us with songs and music from the 1940’s to the 2000’s. The event was in aid of research into Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Sunday 26th: The Worcestershire Army Cadet Force League was founded in 1859 because of the threats from Napoleon. The Force’s mission today is “to help people between ages of 12 and 18 develop both personally and physically by providing a large range of fun, exciting, challenging and adventurous opportunities”. The 5th. Annual Luncheon, held today at the Chateau Impney Hotel, was a great and enjoyable occasion with Her Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant, Mr. Michael A. C. Brinton JP, KStJ present.

Now that was a busy week!!

Monday 13th: The Mayor is Honorary President of the Worcester Twinning Association. A meeting was held this evening in the parlour to discuss plans for taking forward our relationships with our twinned cities. Worcester City is twinned with Kleve – Germany, Le Vesinet- France and Worcester (Massachusetts) – USA and most recently with Ukmerge in Lithuania. In 2006 Worcester entered into a friendship agreement with Vernon, in France, where the Worcestershire regiment established a bridgehead in August 1944. This led to the liberation of Northern France and the Low Countries. These links between communities are important as I have said before and will go on repeating! Understanding, culture, exchanges, sport, learning, language, politics, peace…… all aspects of a twinning arrangement. Membership of the Association is open to anyone interested in improving international relations. So if you are interested more information is online at www.worcester-international-link.org.uk

Tuesday 14th: The “Take Pride in Worcester 2011” campaign was launched this morning with Mike Harrison (Head of Cleaner and Greener City) and me squatting in front of a huge pile of rubbish outside the Guildhall. This was a heap that had been collected that day from the streets of the City. And the cost: £25,000 each week. The cost could be reduced massively if we all took responsibility and did not drop our rubbish!!

“Worcester Live” is renowned for its Shakespeare play productions and especially outdoors at the Commandery. “Twelfth Night” was no exception…it was superb. Chris Jaeger and his team are to be congratulated. A wonderfully balmy evening…some competition between the actors and rather loud blackbirds singing away in a nearby tree.

Wednesday 15th: The Battle of Worcester Society held a planning meeting this morning. This year is the 360th. Anniversary of the Battle of Worcester. This was the last battle of the Civil War and was fought on 3rd. September 1651. It was a pivotal point in our history and everyone should know about it. The celebrations, including battle re-enactments, later this year will help us all understand this time in history more clearly. If you would like to know more about the Society then log on to www.battleofworcestersociety.org.uk. Why not join?

Thursday 16th: Worcester has contributed significantly to medical care for almost a thousand years from the time of St. Wulstan. There have been many establishments for the care of the infirm and some of the buildings remain to this day for example The Commandery, St. Oswald’s, Berkeley’s Hospital, Wyatt’s and Nash’s, Queen Elizabeth House. Worcester was one of the first cities to establish a County Hospital on 11th. January 1746 by Bishop Maddox. The building, in Silver Street, is still there and it is hoped that it will be restored.

Eventually a new hospital was designed (by Anthony Keck 1767), built in 1771 and became our much loved Worcester Royal Infirmary in Castle Street. It served the city well for over 200 years. My time working there (1976 – 1998) was a very happy period.

My friend, Mr. John Black, came to Worcester as a newly appointed Consultant Surgeon in 1978. I had arrived as a Consultant Physician two years earlier. John has made an enormous contribution to Worcester. He has been the President of the Royal College of Surgeons for the last three years. Today he was welcomed back to Worcester for a special meeting in the Charles Hastings Education Centre. I had the honour of opening this event. The highlight of John’s and my collaboration began when, with Dr. Doug Rosewarne (Consultant Radiologist), we launched the “CT Scanner Appeal” in 1987. It was an amazing next two years during which we raised in excess of £2 millions. The “Evening News” (now the “Worcester News”) got right behind the campaign. I am so grateful to the “Worcester News” for providing me with a number of the original photographs taken during the campaign.

Friday 17th: A very busy day! I began by welcoming Cllr. Angela Altair. Angela is a councillor in the Williamstown Ward of Hobsons Bay City Council (Australia) and is the Founder and President of the Williamstown Literary Festival (www.willylitfest.org.uk) in Melbourne. She came to the parlour with Lisa Ventura, the Director of our Worcestershire Literary Festival. We talked about the initiatives in Australia and the excitement about our literary festival that is launched today.

This is National Eye Health Week. Jane and I were really pleased to attend the “Sight Concern” “Eyes Right” project team’s stand in Bell Square (Crown Gate): simple eye tests were carried out as well as the provision of advice on sensible diets that promote the health of our eyes. There are some important facts about which we should be aware: 50% of sight loss in the UK is avoidable!! Seventy three per cent of people with sight loss of working age are unemployed: that’s 15 times that of the general population. If you want to know more contact “Sight Concern Worcestershire”; www.sightconcern.co.uk

I launched officially the first “Worcestershire Literary Festival” in the Cathedral this evening. The initial event was to select from ten finalists the first Poet Laureate for Worcestershire, “Bard of Worcestershire”. Amazing poetry, performances and talent!! A tough choice for the judges. The winner was Theo Theobald. Over the next ten days until 27th. June there will be over 100 literary events to enjoy. Well done Lisa, we are proud of you and your team! More information on www.worcslitfest.com.

Saturday 18th: A “catching up” day!!

Sunday 19th: The Civic Service took place in the Cathedral today (also Trinity Sunday and Father’s Day!) It was a most wonderful occasion on a lovely day with the Cathedral bells in full peel. Fifteen Visiting Civic Heads, eleven past Worcester City Mayors and in all 25 current Worcester City Councillors joined the procession. It was also a great honour to have the High Sheriff and Lord Lieutenant with us. Jane and I were delighted. We are so grateful to the Clergy and staff of the Cathedral for all the work and preparation that went into creating this event. A special “thank you” to the choir and the Dean, The Very Reverend Peter Atkinson, for his sermon that included an emphasis on pride in our City. Indeed this was a day to make us proud of our City.