Mayor of Worcester Blog

Worcester Concert Brass has a concert in the Guildhall on 24th March to raise money for my charities. This is always a popular event, but there are some £8 tickets left.

My charity James Bond themed casino “Shaken Not Stirred” on April 1st is selling well, and will be a fun night. Tickets are £40 including a hot meal, live music, casino chips and wine. Why not book a table for ten and get 10% off? You can find out more by phoning 01905 722001.

Herefordshire County Council held its civic service in Hereford Cathedral on Sunday 12th March.  I love being in cathedrals.  The grandeur, the organ and choral music, the opportunity to sing hymns and to hear words of inspiration delivered to a large congregation, all gathered for the same purpose, definitely lifted my spirits.

The service was a celebration of children and young people and it was encouraging to learn that Herefordshire Council gives a high priority to their welfare.

Monday was Commonwealth Flag Day and I paid my part by making a short speech in front of the Guildhall as the Commonwealth flag was unfurled on top of the building. About one third of the world’s population live in Commonwealth countries and the Commonwealth is a force for democracy, cooperation and peace between nations.

I have been a trustee of Worcester City Parish Relief in Need Charity for the past 15 years and attended its quarterly meeting at St Swithun’s Institute in The Trinity on Tuesday afternoon. This small church-based charity makes grants to Worcester people who are facing financial difficulties. This time we had a low number of applications, which is surprising because I know that many local people are struggling.

About twenty ladies from Kempsey Women’s Institute visited The Parlour on Wednesday and I was delighted to take them on a tour of The Guildhall and tell them some of its history.

 

 

The Showmen’s Guild is the organisation which runs funfairs around the UK, including those which come to Worcester. Tommy Wilson operates the fair at the Cornmarket during the Victorian Christmas Market. We were delighted to be invited to their Midlands annual lunch last week and to share a table with Tommy so that I could thank him personally for his generous donation to my Mayor’s Charity Fund.

On Saturday teams from thirteen local schools had stalls in our High Street, selling a wide variety of goods. They were competing for prizes in the young enterprise competition which enables young people to learn skills needed to run successful businesses. I visited all the stalls and chatted to very enthusiastic young people who had clearly gained a great deal from this experience.  Four business people judged the competition, which must have been a difficult job. Congratulations to all the winners.

Worcester Male Voice Choir invited us to their annual Awards lunch. I was delighted to present certificates to a number of long serving members of this wonderful choir and we were repaid with some excellent musical entertainment.

Our overseas visitors this week included French exchange students invited by Worcester Sixth Form College and the vice chancellor of the University of Minnesota Duluth, invited by our own University. I always enjoy showing off The Guildhall and doing my best to raise Worcester’s profile on the international map.

Winners of the Fairtrade Fortnight poster competition arrived in the Parlour on Wednesday, and I awarded prizes to the overall winners.

On Thursday I met Dr David Webster who is giving a talk entitled Blood and Mud – a Bush Doctor Remembers, which will focus on time he spent in Uganda. This event will take place on 18th April to raise funds for my mayoral charities – it promises to be a fascinating evening!

 

 

Last Friday, I hosted my Charity Auction at The Guildhall. Around fifty people turned up and were treated to a superb performance by Sass Capella,  six sassy ladies who sing in harmony. This was followed by the auction and over twenty lots attracted enthusiastic bidding. Over £2,300 was raised for my charities and will pay for disadvantaged city children to go on adventure breaks and support the air ambulance. A massive thank you to my auctioneer David Stuart-Smith, to  everyone who donated items for sale, Guildhall staff and volunteers who served food and drinks, to Sass Capella and everyone who came.

On Tuesday, we made a flying visit to Sight Concern’s AGM and Supporters’ Event. This charity provides superb support and advice to local people with limited vision and is helped by a large number of volunteers.

Later, we attended the first LGBT+ History Month celebration at the Horn and Trumpet. There were interesting displays and I was fascinated to be reminded how the law has changed during my lifetime and that more tolerance has helped to make many lives much happier.

On Thursday, we were pleased to attend the opening of the University of Worcester’s new Language Centre.

I also welcomed to the Parlour members of the Albany Fellowship, a social group based at the United Reformed Church in Albany Terrace which I regularly attend. It was good to share afternoon tea and chat about being Mayor to my friends.

The Royal Life Saving Society recently relocated to a new office in London Road, Worcester. The Mayoress and I were pleased to attend the launch event. We watched a demonstration of the life-saving skills they had taught when we opened the new swimming pool in January, and it was good to see them settled in their new home.

On 17 February 1892 the Worcester Operatic and Dramatic Society was launched in the Star Hotel in Foregate Street, now known as the White House Hotel. WODS celebrated its 125th anniversary at the same hotel on 17 February 2017 with a dinner dance.

I was delighted to address this event and to recognise the enormous social value which WODS has created in Worcester over so many years. WODYS is the youth section of WODS. Young people have learnt the performing arts, gaining confidence through the experience of being involved in WODYS. I have attended a number of their performances at the Swan Theatre which have been very professionally produced and extremely enjoyable. There is no doubt that Worcester would be a much duller place to live without the entertainment which organisations like WODS and WODYS provide for the benefit of our residents.

The heritage of our city has been celebrated all this week at events which are part of the Love Worcester Festival. On Saturday we visited the Commandery, where hundreds of re-enactors performed historic rolls which brought to life Worcester’s past. I enjoyed a beer served from a 1940s replica bar and was photographed wearing a Napoleonic soldier’s helmet – such fun!

On Sunday we were invited to lunch at Dancox House, home of 214 Battery in Pheasant Street. This was a fundraising event for ABF, The Soldiers’ Charity, which does so much good for soldiers and their families who need help.

On Monday morning we attended the funeral of a long serving employee of the City Council. Jenny-Anne Bowley tragically lost her fight against cancer all too soon and her smile and love of life will be sadly missed.

Later we opened the city’s latest fish and chip shop, the Newtown Fryer. I was served the first meal and it was delicious!