Mayor of Worcester Blog

Monday 9^th: Irving Berlin was inspired by the Easter Parade down Fifth Avenue from St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City and wrote:

“In your Easter bonnet with all the frills upon it,

You’ll be the grandest lady in the Easter parade”.

It was rather a damp Bank Holiday Monday but there were still a number of entries for the Easter Hat Parade along the High Street to the Guildhall. The star of the show was the little dog with his splendid bonnet.

The Easter Bonnet is a tradition of wearing new clothes at Easter time fitting in with the renewal of the year. In the Great Depression a new hat at Easter, or even a homemade or old one, was a luxury. The English tradition of new clothes at Easter is noted in William Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet” where Mercutio teases Benvolio: “Did’st thou not fall out with a Tailor for wearing his new Doublet before Easter?”

Tuesday 10^th: A catching up day dealing with a backlog of editing for the South Sudan Medical Journal. I always find this a pleasure and satisfying to help provide the only medical journal in that young independent country.

Wednesday 11^th: Newly appointed staff of the Worcester City Council are provided with a detailed induction programme. I am always delighted to contribute with a talk about “Being Mayor” and I did today.

Worcester City Council staff induction

Thursday 12^th: On 28^th. March Jane and I were invited to the Oxfam Shop in Mealcheapen Street to see behind the scenes. So I reciprocated today by inviting the staff to the Parlour for “tea” and a tour.

Friday 13^th: The White Star Line ship the RMS Titanic set sail on her maiden voyage from Southampton to New York on 10^th April 1912. On Sunday 14^th April at 11.40pm., about 375 miles south of Newfoundland, a large iceberg was spotted from the look out in the crow’s nest. The ship was unable to avoid a collision and struck the iceberg with a glancing blow leading to a gash in the hull for 300 feet and below the water line. Less than three hours later at 2.20am. on 15^th April the Titanic sank. There were 2,216 people on board and only 710 survived being rescued from lifeboats by RMS Carpathia.

The One Off Performance Society put on an amazing show of the musical “Titanic”. Jane and I were privileged to be invited to see this evening’s performance. It was an emotional rollercoaster knowing the outcome but not knowing how the various parts would be portrayed: collision with the iceberg, the listing of the ship, the panic and final demise and tragedy. It was composed by the American Maury Yeston and premièred in 1997.

Saturday 14^th: Twenty five years ago in 1987 the Worcester Twinning Association was established and our City was twinned with Kleve in Germany. To mark this 25^th anniversary Jane and I accompanied the Chairman and about twenty members of the Association to Kleve Walk beside the River Severn and the Kleve black swan. Here we attached a laurel garland to the swan just after which there was a spontaneous “fly past” of six beautiful white swans along the river.

St. Swithun’s Church has origins back to 1126. It was rebuilt in 1734 – 1736 and remains a stylish and almost unaltered example of early Georgian church architecture. Most noticeable inside is the three-decker pulpit with its wonderful tester surmounted by a gilded pelican feeding her young. Beneath it is the mayor’s pew and ceremonial sword rest. In 1977 this church passed into the guardianship of the Churches Conservation Trust. For more information about this treasure see www.stswithunschurch.org.uk.

This afternoon to celebrate Eastertide a Service of Readings and Hymns was held. With Sword Bearer, Mace Bearers and councillor colleagues Jane and I processed from the Guildhall to St. Swithun’s Church for the service taking our place in the mayor’s pew.

St Swithuns Church

Cllr. Tony Miller, Chairman of Wychavon District Council and his Consort, Mrs. Katherine Miller held their Diamond Jubilee Charity Ball this evening at the Worcester Rugby Club, Sixways Stadium. Most enjoyable company and food and at the same time raising vital funds for “Cross Roads Care” and “Acorns Hospice”.

Monday 2^nd: Tim Clarke, Editor of the Worcester Standard came for our monthly chat about Worcester stories.

Tuesday 3^rd: We had our meeting with representatives of the Worcester Farmers’ Overseas Action Group and Leukaemia Care. In spite of the economic climate we feel we have raised a significant amount of money for these charities…watch this space for the final figure.

Wednesday 4^th: Jane and I had the honour of welcoming Her Royal Highness, The Princess Royal, on her visit to the Youth Support Services (YSS) centre in Carden Street. The Princess became Patron in 2008. The YSS has its origins back to 1985 when it was called The Intensive Support Scheme. It is a multi-agency partnership to provide support programmes for young people aged up to 17 years old who were at risk of being sent to custody and social exclusion. It was part of the Worcestershire Diocesan Board of Social Responsibility. In 1992 the name was changed to YSS. The tour around the centre demonstrated how well a number of organisations are working together very successfully.

Thursday 5^th: The Rotary Clubs of Worcester have five Rotarians from Sri Lanka here on a Group Study Exchange visit. We had a most pleasant Dinner in the Graeme Hick Suite of the Worcestershire County Cricket Club this evening. The Sri Lankan visitors gave fascinating presentations about their country and what Rotary does.

Friday 6^th: It has been a long time since we went to a Scouts’ Gang Show. This evening was great fun at the entertainment put on by the Explorer Scouts at the Chantry High School, Martley. They had only one week to rehearse so well done everyone.

Explorer Scouts form a section of the Scout Association in the United Kingdom for 14- to 18-year-olds. It began in 2001 replacing Venture Scouts. The aim is the provision of a flexible and active Scouting programme for adolescents emphasising personal challenge and adventure. Explorer Scouts meet as Units, are organised at the District level, participate in linkages with local Scout Groups and are able to attain the Queen’s Scout Award, which is the highest Scouting Award.

Saturday 7^th: I welcomed the five Rotary Club visitors from Sri Lanka to the parlour this morning telling them something about our local history and traditions.

In May last year about ten veterans of the Worcestershire Home Guard came to the Parlour for tea and a Reunion. It was so enjoyable they wanted to do it again this year and 24 turned up. It was a great privilege talking to these men and women who did so much for their country during the Second World War.

Talking to the veterans about Mayoral duties.

Worcestershire Home Guard and their families

Sunday 8^th: Happy Easter Everyone!

Monday 26^th: We have long looked forward to the redevelopment of Lowesmoor that part of the City separated by the City Walls Road. The site of the old Vinegar Works is now an “ASDA” store with the historic buildings being sensitively incorporated. Paul McFarlane was nominated as the local hero for his work with children in care. Paul and I “cut the ribbon” to open the store which quickly filled with shoppers.

Cutting the ribbon

ASDA Coffee Shop overlooking the shop floor

The Worcester Technical College runs courses for people with acquired brain injuries. Debbie Morris brought a group of students to the Parlour to hear about the history of the Guildhall. I was impressed by their interest and the way in which they were not allowing disabilities to get in the way of their further education.

St. Peter the Great County Parish Council met this evening. I was asked to give a talk on “Being Mayor”. So much has happened it really is difficult to describe a representative picture of the year. However I hope, with the aid of slides, I gave a flavour of what the Mayor and Mayoress do.

Tuesday 27^th: I had the opportunity to practice my dozen or so Japanese words and phrases today when 27 young Japanese visitors came to the Guildhall. They were here on an annual visit arranged by the Shizuoka Prefectural Overseas Research Association.

Japanese visitors visting the Guildhall

This organisation was set up in 1972 with the support of the Japanese Overseas Cooperation Volunteers. The aim is to arrange excursions to foreign countries, foreign language education, international cultural exchange in Japan and promotion of international awareness with the help of the local government education ministry.

The Full City Council meeting this evening seemed to go pretty well and we managed the business in one minute short of two hours!! It could have been difficult given that we were discussing the review of the City Council’s Constitution. However we had planned a clear procedure which worked and still allowed a wide debate. Colleagues from all sides of the political spectrum respected that and for which I was grateful. This was my last Full Council to chair before Annual Council in May.

Wednesday 28^th: Santiago de Compostela is the capital of the autonomous community of Galicia, Spain. The city’s Cathedral has been a special place to visit throughout history because of the important 9th century medieval pilgrimage route, the Way of St. James. Since 1985 the Old Town has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. So it was especially interesting to welcome ten students on an exchange visit with the Worcester Sixth Form College.

Spanish students from Santiago de Compostela

View of Santiago de Compostela, Pico Sagro in the background (Wikipedia)

The Oxfam shop in Mealcheapen Street held an “Open Day” to enhance the profile of the organisation and the importance of the money raised to help some of the most needy people in the world. Jane and I have a particular interest in developing countries, and especially in Africa, so we were pleased to be invited by Julie Skipp and Maureen Cooper to the shop to see behind the scenes. The way in which items for sale are processed and made ready for attractive display was impressive. There really are some great bargains to be had. For more information about Oxfam see its website: www.oxfam.org.uk.

Since taking part in productions during my school days I have continued to enjoy Gilbert and Sullivan’s operettas. It was a special pleasure to attend “Pirates of Penzance” (alternatively named “The Slave of Duty”) this evening at the Swan Theatre. The Great Witley Operatic Society, directed by Roberta Morrell and Donald Hunt as the Musical Director, put on a very entertaining performance. The Society is celebrating its 60th. Anniversary. For more information see www.gwos.net

Thursday 29^th: “Tea and cakes” in the Parlour and a tour with the Mayor and Mayoress always seems to be a popular prize in a raffle draw. Mrs. Rowberry was a lucky winner at a fundraising event in December and came along with some friends this afternoon.

The Poppy Appeal each year is crucially important. Many Countywide Cadets made huge efforts to raise money. This evening the cadets who had raised the most during the 2011 appeal were rewarded at a ceremony held in the Guildhall: this was the annual Lord Lieutenants’s Cadet Award evening.

Friday 30^th: The portrait of Hubert Aloysius Leicester, discovered in the store room of the City Library, has been hung in the Lower Hall of the Guildhall. He was Mayor of Worcester five times in 1904, 1905, 1913, 1914 and 1915. He was a life-long friend of Elgar, closely associated with the Worcester Festival Choral Society and the first flute and leader of the Elgar’s quintet which became known as “The Brothers Wind”.

Saturday 31^st: Over the centuries from the Iron Age through to  the present day Worcester has been part of royal journeys. An exhibition (open until 14^th July) has been created in the Worcester City Art Gallery & Museum that demonstrates these Royal Journeys. Jane and I were invited to the opening this morning and were really impressed. There is more information on www.museumsworcestershire.org.uk

Royal Journeys with my wife Jane and Worcester Museum & Art Gallery staff members

Monday 19^th: Doris White was born on 21^st. March 1912. Today Jane and I attended her 100 years’ birthday celebration in the Bromyard Road Methodist Church Hall. Doris has been a longstanding member of the West Worcester Live at Home Scheme. She still lives at home alone but with the dedicated support of her nearby daughter Carol. For 17 years she was secretary to the Head of Pitmaston School and later St. John’s School. Her husband, Randolph White, was a Worcester City Councillor and Alderman from 1938 until the mid 1970’s.

1912: what a year in which to be born! The Republic of China was established, the African National Congress was founded in South Africa, Captain Robert Scott and his team reached the South Pole, the  “Titanic” sank and Lawrence Durrell (British writer), James Callaghan, (Prime Minister of the United Kingdom), Perry Como (American singer), Walter Sisulu (South African anti-apartheid activist) and Enoch Powell (British politician) were all born in that year.

Wednesday 21^st: The University of Worcester and the University of Minnesota Duluth (UMD) over the last two years have arranged an educational partnership. UMD’s “Study in England” programme is now based in Worcester. I was pleased to welcome to the Parlour UMD’s Chancellor Dr. Lendley Black and his wife Connie and also Dr. Kathryn Martin the retiring Chancellor. In the evening Jane and I attended a Reception for the Chancellor held in the Riverside Building. There is no doubt that this relationship between our universities is of great mutual benefit.

The Rotary Club of Worcester South invited Jane and me for lunch in the Worcestershire County Cricket Club Suite. I was the guest speaker and gave a talk based on a “scamper through my life”.

Thursday 22^nd: The team of three (Alan Stuttard, James Blackwell and Richard Hopkins) going to the Adentan Municipal Assembly in Ghana met this morning, with my Chairmanship, to finalise plans for their visit in three weeks’ time.  All is set now to take forward the Masterplan for the Adentan area and to draw together all the strands of this very successful Local Economic Development project funded by the DfID.

Dr. John Harcup, OBE (Chairman of the Elgar Society) is a longstanding friend. He was a General Practitioner in Malvern while I was a Consultant Physician in Worcester. John is an enthusiastic medical historian and came to the Parlour for a chat. He was particularly concerned as to how we can raise the profile of the Hurd Library in Hartlebury Castle. We had a number of ideas.

Hartlebury Castle

A quote from the web site (www.hurdlibary.co.uk): “The Hurd Library, founded in 1783 by Richard Hurd, Bishop of Worcester from 1781-1808, at Hartlebury Castle, Worcestershire, is open by appointment to students and scholars by kind permission of the Bishop of Worcester and the Church Commissioners. This magnificent and nationally important library is a unique example of a working library, formed by an 18th century Anglican bishop of wide interests, still on its original shelves in the room built for it. It holds some 5,000 volumes on extremely varied subjects, ranging in date from 1476 to the early 19th century, and includes over 40 volumes from the library of Alexander Pope.”

We also discussed the idea of an annual medical lecture for the people of Worcester and to demonstrate how much our City has contributed to medical science. The first lecture will be given by Professor Richard Lewis, FRCP, on 9^th. May in the Guildhall. It will tell the story of medicine in Worcester based upon the portraits in the old Board Room of the Worcester Royal Infirmary (now the City Campus of the University). We would like more ideas about medical topics but here is a “starter” list we have put together:

History of the Worcester Royal Infirmary.

• History of “Hospitals” in Worcester.
• Cholera.
• Tuberculosis.
• Campylobacter and gastroenteritis.
• Sir Charles Hastings.
• Medical Mayors.
• The first President of the Royal College of Surgeons from Worcester.
• Public health.
• Powick Hospital and the treatment of schizophrenia.
• Elgar and Medicine.
• The History of Nursing in Worcester.
• Worcester’s contributions to clinical trial research.
• Dr. John Wall.
• The medical books in the Hurd Library.

Friday 23^rd: The Rotary Club of Worcester had arranged with St. Barnabas’ CE Primary School to have “Junior Youth Speaks” and “Poetry Reading” competitions. This was a brilliant idea and enabled the twelve finalists to demonstrate their abilities. It is a great challenge to stand up in front of your school friends and speak for five minutes. Jane and I were two of the judges….a very difficult task judging on a wide range of factors including clarity of speech, smoothness of delivery, expression of ideas, richness of vocabulary, grammatical accuracy and general demeanour. The children and the school should be proud of themselves. The prizes and certificates were presented by Anne Pooley, President of the Rotary Club.

Doug Hamilton-Cox was a sapper with the Royal Engineers. He has just begun an attempt to walk the 2,500 miles of the canal network of the UK. This current part of his challenge takes in the Worcester to Birmingham canal. So I was delighted to see him when he took time off to come to the Guildhall. With his other walks, including one from John O’Groats to Lands End, he has raised £50,000 for such charities as “Help for Heroes” and the Military section of the Queen Elizabeth’s Hospital Birmingham. For more information see Doug’s website www.dougwalking.co.uk. Donations can be made to Doug’s charities on www.bmycharity.com/hamiltoncox

Saturday 24^th: “St. John Passion” is one of the greatest works by J.S.Bach. It was performed in the Cathedral by the Worcester Festival Choral Society and the Westminster Chamber Orchestra and conducted by Adrian Lucas. The soloists were Nicholas Mulroy (tenor), Peter Savidge (Baritone), Julie Cooper (Soprano), Kate Symonds-Joy (Mezzo-soprano), Nicholas Sharratt (Tenor) and Robert Rice (Baritone). This was the last concert to be conducted by Adrian as the Society’s Director of Music. A most moving and enjoyable evening.