Mayor of Worcester Blog

Forty high school students from our German twin town Kleve descended on The Guildhall on Thursday. I always enjoy showing off our grade 1 listed building and describing a little of its history. The German flag was flown in their honour. It is good to keep these links alive, especially during the uncertainty following last year’s referendum. German teachers told me they were sad that the UK was to leave the EU.

On Monday, auctioneer David Stuart-Smith from Andrew Grant visited to discuss my Charity Auction. This is shaping up to be an exciting and fun evening in The Guildhall on Friday 24th February. Following food, drink and music by six sassy ladies known as Sass Capella, over twenty lots will be auctioned. If you’re after a bargain day of rugby or cricket, a family short break, a year’s family entry to Slimbridge, a slap-up restaurant meal or a unique original painting or sculpture, this is the event for you! Tickets are available from the Tourist Information Centre at Guildhall, or online from EventBrite.

I launched the Love Worcester Heritage Festival on Tuesday. This runs from 18th to 26th February and offers free and fascinating half-term activities for the whole family. This festival promises to be the best ever and you can find more at http://www.visitworcestershire.org/worcester/Love-Worcester.aspx

On Wednesday, twenty wonderful members of Deaf Direct took my Guildhall Tour. A sign language interpreter ensured that they could both understand my words and ask questions. We also visited the Tolly Community Centre in my Rainbow Hill ward to watch young magicians show off their skills. Fifteen children had been taught to perform magic on a three-week course run by Miraculous Magic. I learned that this had greatly increased their confidence, whilst having a lot of fun. I love supporting ideas which enrich the lives of children from disadvantaged areas. No community should be left behind!

This week began with a visit to the new B&M store in Bath Road, to cut a ribbon and allow the first customers to tour the premises. The store’s manager, Andrew Bradley, escorted us round this new facility, which offers well known brands of a very wide variety of household items at low prices.

Andrew generously donated a valuable item which will be auctioned, with many other items, for my charities on Friday 24 February in the Guildhall.

On Sunday, we were guests of the Worcestershire Chinese Association at The Guildhall. The Association’s chairman, Mr Frankie Tsang, hosted the spectacular celebration of the Chinese New Year. We are now in the Year of the Rooster, the creature said to be the epitome of fidelity and punctuality. We were entertained by firecrackers and an amazing lion dance in front of the building, followed by martial arts, salsa dancing and magic. This was a wonderful free event for all who came, helping us to celebrate the diverse cultures which enrich our city.

A very special and infrequent event took place in The Guildhall on Tuesday. France’s highest military honour, the Légion d’Honneur, was awarded by the French Consul to war veteran Thomas Bridgewater, who landed on the Normandy beaches during the Second World War and helped liberate the French from occupation. This military award was only for French citizens until President Hollande decided that foreign service men and women who helped France could also be eligible. It was good to see so many of Tom’s friends and family in our Guildhall to celebrate this great occasion.

I was delighted to meet Colin Day in the Parlour on Wednesday. Colin was born in a house at the end of Perdiswell Street, and the street sign was on the outside wall near his bedroom window. It was replaced recently. Colin asked the City Council whether he could have the old sign, and I was pleased to present it to him.

Last Friday, Lynn and I attended County Hall to commemorate the Holocaust. This moving event reminded us, in words, images and music, of­ the genocide of Jewish people in the Nazi concentration camps during the Second World War and also of other genocide since that time.

It was good to share this event with representatives of our Jewish, Muslim and Christian faiths and to commit ourselves always to challenge racism and exclusion, as these are attitudes which eventually lead to the horrendous actions we recalled last week.

On Tuesday, we returned to our wonderful leisure centre at Perdiswell, where former Olympic runner Steve Cram joined representatives of the University, Freedom Leisure, The Samaritans and City Council to launch the Worcester Half-Marathon and 10K run. This will take place in September and will attract many visitors to our city.

Running is one of many activities now available in Worcester which help to keep us active and healthy, and I am very happy to support this new event.

The Tiny Tollys is a pre-school group based at the Tolly Centre in Rowan Avenue. We were delighted to join their first birthday party where we saw many small people having lots of fun. This facility is very much needed in this disadvantaged area and we want it to continue.   I understand that there is a small number of spaces for more children and hope that parents will take these up.

We really enjoyed watching Mother Goose, this year’s Kaye’s pantomime at the Swan theatre.

Both students and staff of Regency High School warmly welcomed us for a tour of their school and we were most grateful for their hospitality.

I hosted two groups of visitors to The Guildhall; students from New College and Tudor Grange Academy toured the building and learned about its history, ending another busy mayoral week.

The highlight of the week was my official opening of our magnificent new swimming pool and extended leisure centre at Perdiswell.  A large number of invited guests from around the county and beyond arrived to celebrate this event, including the High Sherriff of Worcestershire and his wife, Sir Nicholas and Lady Caroline Letchmere. Local paralympic medalists Rebecca Redfern and Claire Cashmore were also on hand both to swim and explain how important this pool will be for competitive swimmers.

I was especially pleased to see two former senior officers of the City Council – Duncan Sharkey and Ruth Mullen. They were there at the beginning of the planning process and helped bring together the small team of people to drive the idea forward.

Worcester now has a competition standard, superb facility which adds to our existing, impressive sporting attractions. The pool caters for everyone, from learners to Olympic standard swimmers, including those with disabilities and their carers. The pool will attract both local residents and visitors to our city. If you haven’t yet seen our new pool, I encourage you to do so!

Professor David Green, vice-chancellor and chief executive of our rapidly expanding, very successful University of Worcester hosted mine and Lynn’s visit to its three locations in Oldbury Road, Castle Street and the Riverside. We were most impressed by the wide range of educational opportunities on offer and met existing and former students who have real enthusiasm for our city and university. Later, we attended an inaugural lecture to launch the new School of Law.

The Churches Conservation Trust visited The Guildhall to launch its appeal to improve St Swithun’s Church, our Georgian gem located between High Street and The Shambles. The plan is to restore this magnificent building, install heating and keep it open year-round for the benefit of our residents and visitors. We wish them every success.