Mayor of Worcester Blog

Our busy week started with the opening of a new “pub” inside Shaw Red Hill Care Home. A room converted into a pub-like bar was packed out for the grand opening. What a great idea to brighten up the lives of disabled and elderly residents!

We had great pleasure in opening the Worcester Literary Festival, and were entertained by young people with considerable literary talent reading their prize-winning competition entries. The three finalists for Worcestershire’s Poet Laureate performed their works and Suz Winspear was the worthy winner.

The Queen’s 90^th birthday celebrations dominated our weekend, starting with a visit to Fort Royal School’s Royal Hullabaloo. The school educates primary age special needs children and everyone enjoyed the fun. The head and deputy head teachers greeted the mayoress and me, disguised in face masks as Prince Phillip and the Queen! Friendly, happy and enthusiastic children dressed in red, white and blue were entertained by musicians and a choir from Christopher Whitehead Language College.

On Saturday morning we started the Rotary Club’s Board March and in the afternoon the Deputy Mayor and Mayoress, Cllr Steve McKay with wife Alison, welcomed a large group of nonagenarians to Tea for the Queen in the Guildhall. Thanks to Marks & Spencer for generously donating lots of very tasty cakes!

Sunday afternoon was the mayor’s civic service. My reception for the Queen in the Guildhall was followed by a procession to the packed Cathedral. As well as marking the start of my year of service as mayor, the Queen’s 90^th birthday was also celebrated. Bishop John delivered a memorable sermon and the Cathedral choir was joined by the Worcestershire Youth Choir and Orchestra. Talented singers and musicians from our county schools filled the vast space in the Cathedral with superb music, including Handel’s Zadok the Priest and an anthem composed around 1575 by William Byrd for Queen Elizabeth I.

My loyalties were tested at New Road last week, when the mayoress and I watched Worcestershire play Yorkshire in a 20:20 match. We were guests of Worcester News editor Peter John and, as a Yorkshiremen who has lived most of his life in Worcestershire, it didn’t matter too much which side won!  Both sides played well and the home team won by seven wickets.

I was delighted to chair the annual general meeting of Worcester District Scouts on Monday evening. The scouting movement relies on hundreds of enthusiastic adult volunteers who provide enjoyable and challenging opportunities. We watched presentations about trips to Iceland and Switzerland delivered by the young people.  Scouting produces resilient, confident and resourceful men and women, who are  well prepared for adulthood.

On Tuesday we met two bishops on the same day! Bishop John of Worcester presided over the annual general meeting of the Friends of Worcestershire Royal Hospital. We were impressed to learn how much money had been collected by this charity and used to provide a variety of equipment, which helps the brilliant hospital staff to serve their patients better.

In the evening, Bishop Graham of Dudley licensed the new vicar of St Marks in the Cherry Orchard with St Philips in Whittington churches. A packed congregation experienced a joyful event and the new vicar, Rev Andy Stand, received a very warm welcome. Andy intends to serve everyone living in his parish, not just church-goers, so he will become a familiar face in the years ahead.

Aspies is a local charity providing a safe, supporting meeting place for the many diagnosed with Aspberger Syndrome. These lovely people are wired differently, and think differently, from the rest of us. Without proper help, the consequences can be devastating. So I was delighted to visit their art exhibition on Wednesday. Under the guidance of local artist Kay Mullett, Aspie members had created some excellent watercolour paintings and photographs.

 

My daughter Lucinda is the Mayor’s consort and has agreed to accompany me when the mayoress is otherwise engaged. Lucinda graduated from the University of Worcester two years ago, so she enjoyed visiting the Arena with me for this year’s Worcester Award presentations.

It can be difficult for a newly-qualified university graduate to convince potential employers that they stand out from other applicants and the University of Worcester Award helps them do this. Students who apply for the Award have to complete work experience, voluntary activities, presentations and interview practice and these are great preparation for employment. Our University students are very successful in finding work and the Award will certainly help.

On Saturday, the mayoress and I attended a Fun Day, held at Ronkswood Community Centre. Most of our community centres are managed by Worcester Community Trust (WCT) which works hard, with volunteers, to provide community activities for the most disadvantaged areas of our city. In recent years, council and charity funding for WCT has been drastically reduced, so it’s hard to keep going.

Seeing local children enjoying free fun activities, which families might struggle to afford, was a wonderful experience. Thank you to WCT’s staff and volunteers for making this such a success.

Young members of Worcester Sea Cadets, looking splendid in their smart uniforms, took part in a Guildhall commemoration of the centenary of the Battle of Jutland. A short service of remembrance was held for those who died, including some from Worcestershire. There were also interesting displays about this important battle of the high seas.

Greyfriars in Friar Street invited us to their celebration of 50 years’ association with the National Trust. Twenty thousand people visited this ancient merchant’s house and garden last year. Enthusiastic volunteer guides ensure memorable visits and I would encourage local residents to bring friends and families to see this hidden gem.

My election as mayor at the annual City Council meeting was an emotional event. It is a great honour, a daunting prospect and a relief from the uncertainty of not knowing whether I would be elected but, most of all, I felt the humility which comes from knowing that I am expected to serve our great city to the best of my ability.

My predecessor, Roger Knight, has been an excellent mayor who restored dignity and integrity to this important role, which I intend to continue.

My theme for the year is “No community left behind” and I want the many disadvantaged people living in Worcester to know that I am on their side. I have cancelled the civic banquet because I do not feel it is right to spend your taxes feeding already privileged people, especially when many others rely on food banks. Instead, I will be inviting the under-privileged to events later in the year.

My charities this year are Midlands Air Ambulance Charity and YHA Breaks for Kids. The life-saving air ambulance service depends entirely on charity and gets no government funding. The Youth Hostels Association is a charity which provides adventurous educational trips, staying at youth hostels. I plan to raise money so that youngsters from low-income Worcester families can benefit from these wonderful opportunities.

On Friday, the mayoress and I were honoured to be presented to The Countess of Wessex at the celebration of New College Worcester’s first 150 years. This national centre of excellence for blind and partially-sighted students began in The Commandery in 1866. Talented students sang and played the piano for the Countess, who responded by talking to as many as she could before heading off to celebrate 25 years of the Midlands Air Ambulance Charity.

Our next engagement was at Bosch Worcester Heat Systems for the launch of the South Midlands Branch of the Institute of Safety & Health. Whilst some question the need for laws and rules on health and safety, these are vitally important. Every year, people suffer accidents and ill-health at work – most of which could be avoided. We need knowledgeable experts to train other workers, but we must all share the responsibility to keep each other safe.