Mayor of Worcester Blog

My theme for the year is ‘youth matters’ and my charity is Perdiswell Young People’s Leisure Club, which is the largest provider of youth services across the city.

This week has been all about young people and has completely reinforced why ‘youth matters’.

I started the week at RGS The Grange for their Christmas celebration.

Children in reception, year one and year two combined for a significant cast of 82.

Joseph, Mary, angels, wise men, shepherds, a fantastic array of animals, narrators and the persona of some staff members, all came together for the story of the nativity including songs, dancing and much more.

The staff leading the production were excellent and had a real rapport with the children.

I have been to many schools, state and private and regardless of their status, I can see how important education is to the teaching staff and making sure that their students do well, both academically and pastorally. Teaching staff thank you for all that you do.

This week I also watched the film production of “Dancing Moon”, created by the amazing volunteers at Dancefest.

The group are located at five of the buildings Worcester Community Trust manage, they hold regular weekly classes for children aged four to 16.

Many genres of dancing are clearly taught and with excellent choreography “Dancing Moon” was born.

The children loved seeing themselves in the film and it was a treat to give out certificates rewarding them for their hard work.

Towards the end of the week, I went to an event hosted by the Hereford and Worcester Army Cadet Force Charitable Trust.

Army cadets are not funded by the army, which one could be forgiven for thinking and the funding they do receive is being significantly cut.

More support is needed for this valuable institution, our future generation.

It was an honour to open the Worcester Community Rail Partnership annual event for the second time. The Partnership is all about linking rail stations and communities, so as a self-confessed fan of all things rail, I thought there was absolutely nothing here not to like!

I then zipped to Crown Gate, where the Worcester Ukulele band and Pudsey were in full swing. Looking to raise £20,000 for Children in Need, I could see that this lively band were clearly doing well!

That evening I went to Worcester Musical Theatre production of Stand By Me at our Swan Theatre – a vibrant array of colour, sound and talent, with the raffle proceeds going to Perdiswell Young People’s Leisure Club, my charity for the year. It was fascinating to meet attending members of the National Operatic and Dramatic Association too.

I went to the Lollipop Youth Theatre production of Frozen at the Norbury Theatre. It boasted a large cast, clever choreography and stunning solos, and having met Olaf the snowman I am now very much in the Christmas spirit!

I joined the Mothers’ Union Worcester Diocese Festival Service at Worcester Cathedral to celebrate long service awards and a birthday during a very uplifting service with freshly brewed tea and coffee in the lovely Cloister Café afterwards.

The next day I opened Bizfest, hosted for the second time in our city, this time in the Army Reservist Centre. Small business do a large amount for the economy and it was great to be there to support our local entrepreneurs.

That afternoon I listened in on the Worcester Primary School’s debating competition at St Barnabas CE Primary School. Eight fantastic teams entered, and Nunnery Wood Primary School won with the hosts as runners-up.

On Friday evening I attended the Remembrance Service at Fernhill Heath War Memorial Club.

I received a warm welcome and there were clever displays indoors and out.

Laying a wreath directly under the plaques of names of those lost locally soon brought home the reality of war.

It was particularly touching to see children representing the neighbouring Hindlip First School turn out for an evening 8pm service.

On Saturday afternoon I attended the act of remembrance for Geoffrey Studdert Kennedy, better known as Woodbine Willie, at St John’s Cemetery.

The cemetery is tree lined and peaceful, an apt resting place from the noise of war.

Nicknamed “Woodbine Willie” for giving Woodbine cigarettes and spiritual aid, to injured and dying soldiers, this priest and poet was incredibly brave and rightly awarded a military cross.

On Remembrance Sunday I attended the Worcester Cathedral service and being in the civic procession I was able to really appreciate the crowds that had turned out.

Seeing so many people, it was difficult not to smile, alongside Beatrice Grant the Lord Lieutenant, who took the salute outside the Guildhall.

On Armistice Day I was at Foregate Street station in time for the 7.26am poppy train.

A touching tribute, started due to covid restrictions. Wreaths are collected on trains at stations and placed on the memorial on Platform 1 at London Paddington, ahead of the 10.45am service.

At 11am I was outside Worcester Cathedral cenotaph to lay a wreath and observe the two minutes of silence.

Standard bearers, veterans and the public were alongside each other and have been a constant comfort, throughout this Remembrance weekend.

At 1pm I attended a lunch with the Rotary Club of Worcester, now 101 years young.

They are a charitable, thoughtful and welcoming group, who meet frequently and fundraise a lot. A minute of silence was also held to mark Armistice Day.