Mayor of Worcester Blog

Monday 13^th: A “tidying-up and catching-up day”: there wasn’t much time last week.

I had a telephone call from Richard Vernalls, reporter at the “Worcester News”. He wanted a comment about the recent issue of “Prayers” at Council meetings. Apparently we do not have the legal right to say prayers at a local council meeting, such as “Full Council”, to which councillors have been summoned. Does this really offend anyone? Well, it seems so. The National Secular Society has won a test case in Bideford Town Council. The practice “as part of the formal meeting of a council is not lawful under section 111 of the Local Government Act 1972, and there is no statutory power permitting the practice to continue.” But the key words here are ”…  as part of the formal meeting…” to which councillors have been summoned. There would be nothing to prevent prayers being said before the formal start of a meeting: those who wished not to attend would have that option. I have full respect for the views of everyone in society and would never wish to offend or remove the rights of anyone no matter how small the minority. But it does work both ways and I think the Bishop of Exeter is correct when he is reported as saying: it is a “great shame that a tiny minority are seeking to ban the majority”.

I have just noted an online survey from the “Telegraph”: “Britain is a Christian country and prayer should play an important role in public life” 56.49% agree (5,807 out of 10,280 votes). Another question was: “It is unfair to make non-Christians take part in prayers, or be absent from meetings while they take place”:  14.24% (1,464 votes) agree with that statement. I think this says a lot!!!

However it seems commonsense is prevailing and I understand that from 18^th. February the right to pray can be exercised by major local authorities in England. Whatever you may think of it this must be a victory for “Localism”.

Tuesday 14th: I opened the “Love Your Home Shop” (Community Safety) in “CrownGate” this morning. The shop has been set up in vacant premises (loaned by “CrownGate”) and runs from today until Saturday, 18^th. February. It is a great idea that was the brain child of Inspector Janet Heritage. This is a community venture making accessible, under one roof, advice on crime prevention and safety. Other agencies were there including the Fire Service, Health Service, Worcester Community Safety, Neighbourhood Watch and Safer Roads Partnership. When I arrived the shop was already packed with interested people. One thousand visitors passed through the shop when the initiative was run last year: I think more will come this year.

Someone has broken the lid of the Mayor’s Royal Worcester Porcelain teapot! I took it to Bronte’s in Hanley Swan and they are going to attempt a repair. I was able to have a short tour of the factory and was delighted to see the most exquisite porcelain production and painting going on.

It’s Valentine’s Day!! Cllr. Jim Bulman, Mayor of Evesham, held a Valentine Dinner Party at the Raphael’s Restaurant (next to Hampton Ferry across the River Avon) to raise funds for his charities. A most enjoyable evening with quizzies scattered between the courses.

Wednesday 15^th: Twenty eight students (aged 13 – 14 years), from our German twinned-town of Kleve, came for a welcome and short talk about the Guildhall. They attend the Freiherr-vom-Stein Gymnasium in Kleve.

It is 25 years since the City of Worcester Twinning Association was established. It has been a great success linking us with Kleve (Germany), Le Vesinet (France), Ukmerge (Lithuania), Worcester (USA) and Vernon (France). Jane and I, as President (during my year as Mayor), attended the AGM of the Association this evening at the St. Dunstan’s Bowling Club. From the reports it is clear that a great deal of work has been done to nurture these friendships. These are so important to promote peace, understanding, trade and co-operation. Membership of the Association is open to anyone interested in improving international relations. Members benefit from regular newsletters, social activities, and the opportunity to travel abroad and make lasting friendships by

Monday 6^th: It is important to recognise achievement and no more so than by students who have life challenges. The Worcester Technical College held a ceremony in All Saints’ Church to celebrate the efforts and achievements of many students at the college who have acquired brain injuries. I had the privilege of presenting the certificates for these “Ability Awards”.

We’re there! All plans now in place for Friday’s Diamond Jubilee “Street Party”.

Tim Clarke (Editor of the “Worcester Standard”) and I had our monthly chat in the Parlour.

A very happy event took place in the Parlour later this afternoon: The Young Citizen Awards by Worcester Vigornia Rotary Club. I had the pleasure of presenting the award to the winning nominee, Liam Mackin from New College. This “Young Citizen Awards” project was conceived in 2007 by Rotary International of Great Britain & Ireland in association with the BBC News Channel. It is a fantastic way to celebrate the positive citizenship and important responsibilities assumed by many young people. It recognises those, under the age of 25 years, who have demonstrated their commitment to citizenship through various activities. In this day and age, when we have dismal doomsters who seem to ignore the bright side of life, this is a wonderful way of recognising merit and achievement. That is not to say there are no challenges and difficulties for young people…. there are. But this initiative raises the bar for everyone giving an incentive to excel.

Then my last engagement of the day although not mayoral. I attended the “Sounding Board” at the Worcestershire Royal Hospital. This Board has been formed from the members of the Shadow Council of Governors: now that there is no live application for Foundation Trust status the Council of Governors is no longer a legal entity. But there is so much expertise that the hospital felt it would be a great loss not to “keep us on” in some form hence the “Sounding Board”. We were given a presentation about the coming review of Health Services locally and especially of the hospital service. It is essential that as many people as possible become involved and attend the various consultation events that are being arranged.

Tuesday 7th: The new Resident Judge, as from 12^th December 2011, at the Crown Courts at Worcester and Hereford is His Honour Judge Juckes QC. I was delighted to welcome him officially to the parlour with His Honour Judge Hooper QC (Circuit Judge, Crown and County Courts at Worcester and Hereford and Honorary Recorder of the City of Hereford).

The celebrations of the Chinese New Year of the Dragon continue. Mr. Frankie Tsang invited Jane and me to attend a Dinner Party at the “Four Seasons” in Powick. Another great evening and another “Lion Dance”.

Wednesday 8^th: Jane and I joined a number of others for a tour of “The Hive”. The space inside is amazing and is a fantastic asset for the City, University and further afield. The energy-saving measures for its construction and maintenance are way ahead of anything. All those  involved with the project through to completion are to be congratulated.

The Hive

Thirty-one children (aged 5 – 7 years) and ten teachers came from Eckington First School for a tour of the Guildhall. Well behaved, attentive and interested: a real pleasure to welcome and help them with their project on the buildings in Worcester.

The Friends of Worcester Cathedral met for lunch in “The Guesten”, The Guesten, 15, College Green, off Edgar Street, is a beautifully restored Queen Anne house. I was invited to be their guest speaker and talk about my life and interests.

The musical “Hairspray” is based on the film composed by John Waters in 1988 and a book by Mark O’Donnell and Thomas Meehan. The music is by Marc Shaiman who with Scott Wittman wrote the lyrics. It includes dance music, rhythm and blues from the 1960’s. Overnight Tracy Turnblad becomes a celebrity when she wins a dream role on The Corny Collins Show. The musical opened on Broadway on August 15, 2002, winning eight Tony Awards and running for over 2,500 performances until 2009. The Bishop Perowne College put on a wonderful interpretation and performance this evening. These young actors should be immensely proud of their achievements. Jane and I were enthralled throughout.

Thursday 9^th: Ida Pettersson is a student from Finland at the University of Worcester. She is currently attached to the Communications Team of the Worcester City Council on work experience. She will be assisting particularly with photography. I met her with Andy Burton in the parlour to discuss ways of helping the mayoralty with photographic records.

University of Worcester Student, Ida Pettersson

Friday 10^th: All the hard work for the Diamond Jubilee “Street Party” this evening paid off. It was a wonderful occasion.

Welcoming the guests in the Lower Hall, The Guildhall

The “Flower Ladies” did a fantastic job with the arrangements on the main stairs of the Guildhall and the Assembly Room. The meal of “bangers and mash” was great and well presented by “Plyvine”, Mandy and her team. Over 120 guests attended and were entertained by Theo Theobald, The Poet Laureate of Worcestershire, reciting a poem he had composed specially for the occasion. Henry Sandon, MBE, was the guest speaker and such fun. Rotarian David Inight, MBE, dressed as a beefeater acted as Master of Ceremonies. Coaches just before mid night!

1950’s street party style dinner in the Assembly Room

1950’s Diamond Jubilee memorabilia at the dinner tables

Saturday 11^th: A little jaded this morning. Jane and I went along to The Tudor House in Friar Street. This was to contribute to their Diary Day, when people from across the city were asked to choose a date from their diary as their “best day”. It was difficult to decide on “my best day” since I became Mayor in May last year. In the end I took an extract from my diary on Sunday, 19^th June 2011:

“The Civic Service took place in the Cathedral today (also Trinity Sunday and Father’s Day!). It was a most wonderful occasion 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. The Mayoress 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”.

“Diary Day” at Tudor House

Tudor House is really worth a visit and admission is free!. There is so much of Worcester’s history told there. It was built probably around 1575. For centuries it had been the home for weavers, clothiers, bakers and a painter as well as part of it being The Cross Keys tavern. For more information: www.tudorhouse.org.uk

Mayoralties throughout the country raise huge amounts of money for worthy charities. So Jane and I were pleased to be invited by Councillor Dr. Jan Adams, Mayor of Bewdley, to her Charity Ball in aid of Dementia UK and The County Air Ambulance. It was held in the splendid Wharton Park Golf, Hotel and Country Club.

Sunday 12^th: A day of rest!

Monday 30^th: The Worcester Porcelain Museum is an important collection and asset for our City. The problem is that it is a little “cut off” geographically from the city centre. At the last Museum Trustees’ meeting in November I suggested that perhaps we should consider a display of Worcester porcelain in the Guildhall. This could then encourage visitors to the Museum to see more of these treasures. Today I met Wendy Cook, who is the Curator, to discuss various possibilities.

Thursday 2^nd: A very short Planning Committee meeting this afternoon.

Friday 3^rd: Peter Shearon and Donald Hunt came to discuss the “The Elgar Festival” and the English Symphony Orchestra in May/June this year. This should be fantastic in this Diamond Jubilee Year. So we hope to have a special reception in the Guildhall on Thursday 31^st. May to launch the Festival prior to the concert in the Cathedral.

Later I saw Major Mark Cubitt of the Queen’s Royal Hussars and Lt. Col. Gerry Taggert to discuss further plans for Armed Forces Week in June. Things are really coming together now and Wednesday 27^th June should be a day to remember honouring our troops.

Saturday 4^th: Over hundreds of years Worcester has had many talented citizens. But there is one about whom many, perhaps most, people have not heard. His name is John James Cam (1850 – 1919). He joined his father, John Cam (1827 – 1850), at the Excelsior Works at 32, The Shambles. John James became an amazing engineer and inventor. He built the engines for the organ of Worcester’s Public Hall as well as the Cathedral and was founder member of the Worcestershire Camera Club and Worcester Tricycle Club. A remarkable man. In order to recognise these important facts a “Blue Plaque” was acquired by the Worcester Tourism Association and unveiled today on the wall of 4, Charles Street which was “JJC’s” purpose-built works. I was privileged to be present and to address guests at the Tudor House Museum over a light lunch reception.

Sunday 5^th: The Dragon is one of the 12-year cycle of animals which appear in the Chinese zodiac related to the Chinese calendar. The Year of the Dragon runs from 23^rd January 2012 – 9^th February 2013 is considered the luckiest year with harmony and happiness. The Year 2012 is the 4,709^th Chinese year. The Chinese believe that the first king of China was the Yellow King who became king in 2697 B.C. (2,697 + 2012 = 4,709)

Jane and I were invited by the Worcestershire Chinese Association to take part in the celebrations of the New Year of the Dragon at the Guildhall. In spite of a dull damp day with slushy snow in the streets the turnout was huge. For three hours we were entertained beginning with ear-piercing fire crackers on the forecourt of the Guildhall. This was followed by the Lion Dance, Chinese acrobats, playing of the guzheng, straw hat juggling, face mask changing and much more.

Dragon Celebrations at the Guildhall – Photos above provided by Ida Pettersson 

You can find a good selection of the event on the Worcester Facebook Page.

There is a debate currently about our National Health Service and how it is to cope and respond to the increasing needs and demands put upon it.  When I received the Medical Missionaries of Mary (MMM)

Newsletter this week it set me thinking: no matter what we think we are very fortunate in the UK. This is not to say that we should not strive for greater quality and quantity of healthcare and especially for the “hard to reach” groups.

As many people know I have worked extensively in Uganda and love the country. I have also worked with a wonderful MMM Sister, Sister Carla Simmons, who is a physician providing palliative care in Masaka, Uganda. The World Health Organization has declared that Palliative Care is a right of everyone. Yet Sister Carla tells us:

“When asked to write about the MMM core value of justice in relation to my work here in Uganda, I immediately thought that it is easy to talk about rights, but it is a different story when it comes to helping people access those rights.

“In Uganda there is one doctor per 33,000 people. So even though everyone has a right to health care, it is not possible to provide it for most of the population. In the greater Masaka region where we work, the population is approximately 1.5 million. This means that about 150,000 people are suffering from cancer or HIV. Of these, about 15,000 need palliative care. Kitovu Mobile is the only organization offering a dependable and regular palliative care service at present. While two or three hospitals have trained personnel, usually morphine and other drugs are not available.

“In 2011 we cared for 386 patients. That means that over 14,000 people were suffering in silence at home. Family members also suffer because when we have a seriously sick relative, we are not at peace.

“‘Justice is compassion in action’, but how do we reach all the people that are out in the villages suffering? Many things need to be done. First of all, as a team we educate as many people as possible about palliative care: what it is, who needs it, and how it can be accessed. We talk to our own community volunteers, community leaders, catechists, and congregations at churches. This year we met with Seventh Day Adventists and Evangelicals. If we are to be just we must open our doors to everyone, whatever their beliefs.

“Secondly, we must ensure that no one is turned away because of costs. ‘Being attentive to the cries of the poor’ is not difficult in the rural setting in which we work. The majority of our patients are very poor. That is why they come to us. They cannot afford to go to the clinics and

 

Monday 23^rd: Grahame Lucas came to see me to discuss the “Worcester Foodbank” initiative being set up by All Saints Church and other partner churches. Worcester has its areas of poverty and increasingly there is a problem with people being only a pay cheque or bill payment away from a crisis. The aim of the “Foodbank” is to assist individuals by providing free emergency (non-perishable) food for three days (ten balanced meals).  The food will be collected from the public at churches and schools and supermarkets and distributed to those in need. Also agencies (e.g. social services, clergy) will be given vouchers to hand to individuals they consider require help. The vouchers will then be exchanged for free food at the “Foodbank”. Trained volunteers will be available at the distribution centre to listen to problems and advise about access to other help to break the long term cycle of poverty. Last week I mentioned the “Worcester Christians Against Poverty” initiative and this will also link in with the work of the “Worcester Foodbank”.

I was delighted to welcome a group of Worcester lace makers to the Parlour for tea and a chat. As well as the history of the Guildhall they were especially interested in the lace that forms the Mayor’s jabot (Jabot comes from the French jabot meaning a bird’s crop). The term used to refer to the ruffles over the front of a shirt. Gradually it changed to a decorative item of lace or other fabric below the neck, attached to a neckband.
The current one is machine made: it would be wonderful to have a handmade one!

Jane, the Mayoress, is a keen lace-maker and two generations ago my family made lace by hand for a living in Bedfordshire. Lace is openwork, patterned with holes. Lace-making is an ancient craft going back to at least the late 15^th Century. The technique for true lace is the looping, twisting or braiding to other threads quite separately from a backing fabric.