Mayor of Worcester Blog

Monday 19^th: The City Council’s  Local Economic Development project (funded by the Department for International Development) with the Adentan Municipal Assembly in Ghana has been a great success. Officially it has now ended and our “Final Project Report” has been sent to the Commonwealth Local Government Forum (CLGF). However there is a significant resource left over and we are hoping that the CLGF will approve our using it to take forward a Master Planning initiative in Adentan. With that in mind I met James Blackwell, an officer in our Planning Department, to discuss the next possible steps.

Christmas is a time to bring as many colleagues together so I was pleased that a number from the City Council took up my invitation to come to the Parlour in their lunch break to share some festive cheer. We really do have a great team working for the City: I am proud of every one of them!

Students from The Regency High School Sports College came to sing in the City after which Jane and I were delighted to welcome them to the Parlour. As always children are so interested in the treasures.

The Worcester District Scout Carol Service took place in the Cathedral this evening. This was combined with a special interpretation of the “Nativity”. The readers were excellent although there were times when the acoustics didn’t do them justice. Well done to them all.

Tuesday 20^th: “A Celebration of Christmas” for the Worcester College of Technology was held at 11am. in the beautiful All Saints Church (Deansway). I have lived in Worcester for 35 years and this is the first time I have been into All Saints….what an admission!!

Wednesday 21^st: The Cathedral was packed this evening and that included the side aisles. This was the occasion of the “Worcester News” Traditional Christmas Carol Service. The Very Reverend Peter Atkinson, Dean of Worcester, welcomed the congregation and then followed a magnificent service. As always the Cathedral Choir was outstanding. This was truly a community event! Afterwards Peter John, Editor of the ”Worcester News”, brought his team and guests to the Parlour for “mulled wine and minced pies”.

Thursday 22^nd: It is important to support local companies so I was pleased to attend a reception given by “Titania” at their offices in the County House, St. Mary’s Street. “Titania” is indeed a rapidly expanding software development company trading worldwide and “bucking the economic gloom and doom”.

There are no words to adequately describe the wonder of The Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols in the Cathedral this evening. The huge congregation enjoyed music by The Boy Choristers and Lay Clerks of the Worcester Cathedral Choir, Christopher Allsop and George Castle at the Organ and Jonathan Holland playing the Trumpet with Adrian Lucas conducting.

Saturday 24^th: The usual “last minute” dash to get everything ready for Christmas…only this year it was even more “last minutish”!!

Our son William arrived around 11pm. with his wife Yuri and four-year-old twin daughters, Kimi and Yumi. Mercifully this meant that that slept late the next morning!!

Sunday 25^th: It is a long time since I have been to hospital on Christmas Day. Jane and I were invited to tour the Worcestershire Royal Hospital this morning. It was a pleasure to greet the staff and patients… five babies (all girls!!) born already today and four more expected.

The rest of the day was spent in our traditional Christmas family way.

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I was elected Mayor on 17^th May 2011: how quickly the time has passed. Jane and I have enjoyed every moment of more than 300 engagements.

The “View from the Parlour” is a privilege. We have met large numbers of people of all ages and backgrounds from across Worcester all of whom love our City. Visitors from many parts of the world, and especially our twinned towns in Europe and USA, have said how much they enjoy Worcester. This was clearly shown during the recent very successful Victorian Fayre.

Music has formed a large part of our enjoyment over these last seven months: The Three Choirs Festival, The Worcester Festival, The Music Festival, concerts by the Worcester Festival Choral Society, Worcester Male Voice Choir and Elgar School of Music; the Cathedral Choirs and performances by schools such as Tudor Grange, Bishop Perowne and The Royal Grammar School.

Then all the entertainment that “Worcester Live” provides through The Swan Theatre and Shakespeare at the Commandery. And of course the first Worcestershire Literary Festival.

The expanding University, The new Library and History Centre in “The Hive” (yes, I do like it!!), the renewed Riverside… I constantly receive favourable comments about all of these.

I take the opportunity, at this time of giving, to express my sincere thanks to everyone involved with fund-raising for my Mayor’s charities: Worcester Farmers’ Overseas Action Group and Leukaemia Care. In spite of these difficult financial times people have been so generous.

The Mayoralty cannot function efficiently without a lot of support. My PA, Susan O’Kane, continues to run an efficient office and Rachel Conway has done an outstanding job during Susan’s absence. I am also indebted to Frank Southam, my Sword-Bearer, the mace-bearers and other members of the Guildhall staff who are always on hand to help.

We have stated aspirations to become a First Rank Cathedral and University City… I think we are one already!!

The Mayoress and I wish you all a Very Happy New Year.

Monday 12^th: The day began by assisting the Worcester Virgornia Rotary Club to deliver Christmas parcels to the lonely and needy in various parts of the City.

The “Carols at County Hall” took place at noon in the Council Chamber. A most enjoyable occasion accompanied by Haybridge High School and Hagley Primary School.

Tuesday 13^th: Claire Neville of the City Council’s Communications Department came to the Parlour to interview me in order to put together a “Mayoral piece” for the Council’s magazine “City Life”.

New employees of the City Council receive a routine induction course. Included is a session with the Mayor so it was a pleasure to welcome fifteen new colleagues and show them the treasures of the Parlour and Guildhall.

Lt. Col. Gerry Taggert, Cllr. Roger Berry and I met to plan a briefing meeting on Thursday concerning ideas for Armed Forces Day in June next year.

The University held its Christmas Season Reception in the new Riverside Building. A great occasion to celebrate what the University is achieving, its expansion and the building of the Worcester Arena. All these assets are and will become so important for our City.

In the evening Jane and I attended The Bishop Perowne Church of England College Carol Service in the Cathedral. The College Chamber Choir, orchestra and readers were really special. Yes, another example of Worcester’s musical prowess.

Wednesday 14^th: Nativity plays are for the joy of children and the pride of their parent. That is what Jane and I saw when we were invited to see “The Nativity” performed by the St. Peters Pre-school in St. Peters Village Hall.

Nativity Play (Wikipedia)

The plethora of carol services with their high attendance is a reflection that, yes, we are at heart still a Christian country. Jane and I attended the Bromsgrove District Council and Churches Together Community Carol Service this evening. The Spadesbourne Suite, which is a large hall, was packed. Children of Finstall First School formed the choir.

Thursday 15^th: Armed Forces Day briefing of a wide number of interested parties. Now the hard work begins to try to make it all a reality!

The Oaks in Malvern is accommodates about six people with learning and life skill problems. Jane and I were invited by Andrew Dykes (Chairman) and Donna Taundry (Manager) to a “Mulled wine and mince pie morning”. It was good to meet the residents and learn about the important care that takes place there.

My Mayor’s Charity Christmas Concert in the Guildhall was a great success. At first I was worried about the numbers that would be attending. However on the evening the Assembly Room was full. Dr. Donald Hunt and the Elgar Chorale were magnificent. We were treated to Appalachian Carols and Carols from the West Country, Wales and Africa. The readings included works by John Betjeman (”Christmas”), Benjamin Zephaniah (“Talking Turkeys!!”) and John Julius Norwich (“The Twelve Days of Christmas”).

Friday 16^th: Fort Royal School (on the site of the former Thornton House School, Wylds Lane) provides for about 150 children with special needs (learning and physical) from nursery age up to 11 years old. Jane and I were delighted to visit, with Father Christmas, to meet the children and have a tour of the school. Jane Long (Head Teacher) and her staff are doing a magnificent, difficult and vital job. Since 2007 the school has raised £20,000 enabling phase 1 of the playground and outdoor facilities to be completed. I had the privilege of opening it with the children. It is acknowledged that this outdoor environment is a crucial element in how the children learn, socialise, behave, play and develop. Phase 2 is now needed and fund raising is underway. If anyone would like to help do let me know.

Another meeting with representatives of “Leukaemia Care” and “Worcester Farmers’ Overseas Action Group” to discuss more fund raising initiatives.

As an honorary member of Worcester Rotary Club, I, with Jane, attended a “Wassail” evening organised by the Club in The United Reform Church (Albany Terrace). Great entertainment, great food and punch (the “wassail”)! “Wassail” refers to a number of things. Wassailing is an ancient southern English tradition performed to ensuring a good crop of cider apples next year. The Middle English phrase wæs hæl, meaning ‘good health’. The drink of wassail is a hot mulled cider traditionally drunk during the wassail ceremony.

Saturday 17^th and Sunday 18^th: A “free” weekend to catch up on some of the pre-Christmas jobs…the last minute Christmas cards in particular.

Since I was encouraged to write this weekly “Blog” the “unique visitors” has risen from 73 to 147!! Oh, the wonders of modern cyberspace and technology. Today’s technological wonders are so different to the time of the original Christmas Nativity, but what if….

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GkHNNPM7pJA
Times change, feelings remain the same!

Happy Christmas Everyone.

Monday 5^th: Time to catch up with domestic jobs!

Tuesday 6^th: Steve Willetts came to the Parlour to discuss a proposal concerning a “Peel2Save” initiative. This involves discounts in various retail and restaurant outlets offered to those who purchase a booklet of stickers. Half of the money raised then goes to charity. We’re going to look into this.

A pleasant half an hour with Tim Clarke, Editor of the “Worcester Standard”, to discuss City issues and mayoral activities. It’s a tough time out there for small local newspapers.

The Carol and Christingle Service in the Cathedral for the Royal Grammar School The Grange (Years 3 – 6) was outstanding. All the hard work over many weeks by the pupils and staff in the School, Chamber and Senior Choirs produced performances of which everyone should be proud. Jane and I were amazed at the confidence of the young readers.

A  Christingle has its origins in the Moravian Church and especially from Germany where Bishop Johannes de Watteville in 1747 wanted to explain what Christmas really meant to the children in the church. It has evolved since and in 1968 the Christingle was introduced into services of the Anglican Church. The Christingle consists of an orange (the world), a red ribbon (the blood of Christ), dried fruits or sweets skewered on cocktail sticks (the fruits of the earth and the four seasons) and a lighted candle (Christ, the light of the world).

Wednesday 7^th: Our son, Mark, and his wife Sarah have a small bungalow hidden away on the side of Ankerdine Hill (Martley). It was a beautiful sunny morning so we went out there for coffee: a wonderful peaceful spot overlooking the beautiful Worcestershire countryside.

The Cloisters of the Cathedral came glittered this afternoon when the Dean switched on the Festival of Christmas Trees. This had been arranged by the Daisy Chain Benevolent Fund Trust (DCBTF) and sponsored by a wide range of organisations and businesses.

Christmas Trees at the Christmas Tree Festival at Worcester Cathedral

Jane and I had the very difficult task of picking the three best decorated trees out of the 43 entries. But they were all winners really. We hope the public will come and view the trees during this Festival which lasts until 4^th January and give as generously as they are able. The charities being helped  this year by the DCBTF are the Midlands’ Air Ambulance and MacMillan Cancer Support.

Christmas Trees at the Christmas Tree Festival , Worcester Cathedral

The custom of erecting a Christmas tree can be traced to 15^th century Livonia (present-day Estonia and Latvia) and 16^th century Germany. It is alleged that there was a tradition of decorating a spruce trees in the market square where the young men “went with a flock of maidens and women, first sang and danced there and then set the tree aflame”.

Monday 28^th: I attended a “Task and Finish” group of the City Council’s Scrutiny Committee met to discuss the work being done looking into parking issues.

Tuesday 29^th: I always enjoy giving talks on my African experiences so I was pleased to be invited by the Claines’ Probus Club to a meeting at the “Mug House”. A quick scamper through Uganda and Rwanda seemed to go down well!

The Rotary Club of Worcester and I had our monthly meeting to continue the planning for our joint charity dinner event on Friday 10^th February 2012. It’ll be a great evening so I hope everyone is dusting off their crowns and coronets!

Wednesday 30^th: Don’t forget my Mayor’s Charity Concert at 7:30pm on Thursday, 15^th December in the Assembly Room of the Guildhall. Tickets: Elgar Chorale 01684 594570 or Worcester Tourist Information Centre 01905 726311. Donald Hunt and I met this morning to add the finishing touches to the plans. All of the readers and singers are giving their services entirely free of charge so do come… it’s only £8 for a great evening.

The Worcester Consolidated Municipal Charity is empowered: “to consider applications for assistance from Worcester City residents or in exceptional cases people who are resident immediately outside of the City but who, in the opinion of the trustees, ought nevertheless for sufficient reason to be treated as if resident therein or who are located or the time being therein.”

The Worcester Municipal Exhibitions Foundation is empowered: “to consider applications for assistance from people of any age who live in Worcester City, the Parishes of Powick, Bransford and Rushwick, and the Ancient Parish of Leigh. Applications for assistance may also be considered from people of any age who live outside these areas but who have attended school in the City for at least two years. ”

The Trustees had their monthly meeting this afternoon in Berkeley Hospital. It is a privilege, as a Worcester City Council nominee, to be part of these great charities that have done so much good over hundreds of years.

One of my charities, Leukaemia Care, arranged a “Wine Man’s Bluff” and Cheese evening in the Guildhall. Great fun. We had to name six wines from three descriptions each (two were false). By more luck than knowledge I managed three out of six!! We are so grateful to Barclays Corporate, Thursfields, Tivoli Wines, and Ansteys for their generous sponsorship.

Thursday 1^st: Prince Edward visited the Swan Theatre today to see the renovations and improvements that have been made. It was truly a great occasion.

Welcoming HRH Prince Edward to the Swan Theatre

Excerpts from various productions including “Jack and The Bean Stalk” were played and once more demonstrated the wonderful talent we have in Worcester in the performing arts.

HRH Prince Edward unveils the official plaque at the Swan Theatre

The Worcester Christmas Victorian Fayre is now in its 19^th year!! We assembled in the Guildhall with Cathedral clergy and the Cathedral Voluntary Choir.

Clergy and the Cathedral Voluntary Choir – photo by Ida Pettersson (university student)

Carols were sung from the steps of the Guildhall before we processed to the Cornmarket where the Dean conducted a short carol service. This was followed by speeches by Michael Clarke (Chairman of Visit Worcester) and visitors from our twinned towns of Kleve in Germany, Le Vesinet in France and Ukmerge in Lithuania.

Opening Ceremony at the Cornmarket, Ukmerge Lithuania representative

Opening Ceremony at the Cornmarket – photo by Ida Pettersson (university student)

I had the privilege of formally opening the Fayre. A quick “go” on the horses’ roundabout and back to the Guildhall for a reception.

Carousel fun – photo by Ida Pettersson (university student)

The weather was kind to us, the crowds were huge and the atmosphere and general feeling of the Fayre were the best I have known. A lovely selection of photos of the Opening Ceremony & Victorian Fayre can be found on the Worcester Facebook page.

Friday 2^nd: I began the day with a talk about the Guildhall and its treasures to a group of Year 7 students from Blessed Edward Oldcorne College.

At mid day Jane and I were taken around the stalls of the Victorian Fayre by Nadja von Dahlen of Visit Worcester. Clearly a huge amount of work has gone into the detailed arrangements for the 120 or so stalls.

Market stall from twin town Le Vesinet, France

There was a wonderful range: delicious chocolate, fudge, breads, cheeses, meats, mulled wine… handicrafts, pottery, jewellery… and much more. There remains a great atmosphere and the stallholders I spoke to were very pleased with their custom.

The Burgermeister (Mayor), Theo Brauer, from our twinned city of Kleve has arrived and came with his colleagues to the Parlour for an informal welcome.

Saturday 3^rd: Our visitors from Kleve are very keen to have a photographic record of their stay so they returned to the Parlour for that purpose.

The Elgar School of Music is a wonderful cultural resource for our City. Gillian Lumsdon (Head of School) and her team put on an amazing four hours of a Festival of Christmas Music in the Assembly Room of the Guildhall this afternoon and evening. Jane and I managed to pop in and enjoy some of it.

At the entrance to the Guildhall are two huge Christmas Trees. Leukaemia Care and Worcester Farmers’ Overseas Action Group (my two mayoral charities) have arranged to sell stars to hang on these trees in memory of past loved ones. Bishop David of Dudley and I launched this initiative with a short carol service accompanied by the Salvation Army. I was supposed to have switched on the lights on these Starlight Trees but the problem was that the lights were already on: because of a bazaar going on in the Lower Hall at the time meant that we couldn’t get at the switch. So we had an imaginary “switch on”.

Sunday 4^th: The Victorian Fayre has been a fantastic success. It was a real pleasure to go around this morning with Nadja von Dahlen of Visit Worcester to present the prizes to best stalls and best dressed stall holders.

I am the Chairman of the Oxford University Society (Worcestershire Branch). We held our annual Christmas drinks party and AGM in the parlour at lunch time. It was a most enjoyable occasion and we even managed to substantially renew the Committee (including a new Chairman!!) that organises events throughout the year.

The Carol Service season has begun. Jane and I attended the service arranged by The Chairman of the Wyre Forest District Council in St. Mary and All Saints Church, Kidderminster. Students from Hagley Roman Catholic High School provided the music to accompany the carols as well as delighting us with additional vocal pieces.