Mayor of Worcester Blog

A couple of weeks ago I mention that I attended the showcase production of Harlequin Dance prior to their trip to Romania where they were to compete in the World Dance Cup. I wrote, “Has Worcester got Talent?” Well it seems we most certainly have, and here’s the proof!

Eighty three children (aged 6 to 18 years old) from Harlequin Stage School represented our country in Team England at The Dance World Cup held in Romania last week and helped ENGLAND to be crowned overall CHAMPIONS. Paula Dymock, Principal of the School, was overwhelmed by their performance – and on top of the world with the superb results!

The Team won 15 Gold, nine Silver and nine Bronze as they competed against performers from 44 other countries! Harlequin also won the prize for the most outstanding classical group “The Orchestra” and Felicity Gibbons, aged 9, was named the most outstanding performer in the World Cup mini performance category. Well done and congratulations Felicity!! I am sure that when The National Anthem was sung, the whole team must have been bursting with pride.

Their trip to Romania proved to be the journey of a lifetime. Well done, you are all a great credit to Worcester and indeed our Country.

Also showing great talent were the children performing at RGS The Grange years three and four end of term concert. They were a delight to watch and performed beautifully, a great credit to the school!

I attended a special event to mark the one hundredth anniversary of Fort Royal Park on Monday 29 June. The celebrations included cutting a specially designed and beautiful cake, a performance by Stanley Road Primary School pupils and an informal outdoor service of evensong. The Friends of Fort Royal Park organised the event very well and it proved to be a very pleasant evening, made even better by the lovely setting and being blessed with good weather.

A delegation of government officials and business leaders from Hezhou in China visited Worcester last week when we welcomed them to the Guildhall for the signing of the Sister City Agreement. My thanks go out to the Worcestershire Ambassadors, to Mr Frankie Tsang, The Chamber of Trade and Council Officers who all worked to make the visit such a success.

Armed Forces week started with the raising of the flag over the Guildhall and culminated in a magnificent parade through town on Saturday 27th June. The turnout for the march past was terrific and there were hundreds, if not thousands of people flanking the streets to see the Queens Royal Hussars parading past as they celebrated the Regimental Freedom of our City.

One Sergeant Major said that as he marched around a corner and saw the masses of people either side of the road, clapping and cheering as the Hussars approached, his feelings whelmed up and he felt a lump in his throat. This puts in perspective the value of us turning out to recognise their work, on our behalf, and to cheer them on!

Five members of the England Women’s Cricket Team took time out to visit Worcestershire Cricket Club and, together with Club Staff, thoroughly entertained 90 children from Cherry Orchard Primary School. I spoke to a lot of the children and, without exception, they thought the day was a great success. There were competitions, quizzes and of course cricket on the beautiful grounds of our famous cricket pitch – the prettiest in England!!

Tuesday saw the GB v Germany Woman Basketball International staged at the Arena. I hadn’t realised just what a fast moving and exciting game this sport offered, it really was a great evening even if we did lose – but only just – it was close!

Later this summer, our city will welcome the continent’s leading wheelchair basketball nations to the European Championships, where they will join the Great Britain teams in competing for both the prestigious title and a highly coveted qualification spot at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games.

Held from 28^th August to the 6 September at the University of Worcester Arena, this is a fantastic opportunity to see this fast-paced family sport, up close to the action. More information, including tickets, can be found at www.euro2015.uk or through the British Wheelchair Basketball Office on 01509 279900 / office@britishwheelchairbasketball.co.uk

Lastly still on a sporting note, the T20 Worcester Rapids V Northamptonshire Steelbacks played at New Road in beautiful weather conditions. They ran to the wire and we lost by just two runs!!!

The “Big Sing 2015” held at the Worcester Arena on Tuesday 16th June was a brilliantly organised extravaganza of one thousand primary school pupils, so eager and enthused by the opportunity to participate in this festival of song.  It was a lovely experience and heart warming to see so many children from a variety of schools singing with actions in complete unison.  I take my hat off to the organisers; the children thoroughly enjoyed it as did all those watching.  I said a thousand children, but really it was two thousand as I attended the second afternoon session which followed a similar event in the morning!

St Barnabas School staged their Junior Youth Speaks event with both poetry and story.  There were six finalists in each competition, two from each year, and together with the Rotary Club, we had the very difficult job of judging their performances.  I thought the best overall performance was delivered by a young lady who had spent her early life in Brazil and, at home, the family language was Portuguese.  Despite English being her second language she delivered her story, on the theme of “The Place She Most Wanted to Go”, in the most engaging way with excellent use of English, as well as expression and delivery.

Also on the same day my wife and I attended a Summer Fete in Latimer Court Residential Care Home.  Wwe were both struck by the good design of the building, the central garden area and the vegetable/herb garden.  The rooms were of the highest standard, beautifully fitted out and the premises staffed by a team of very committed and dedicated people.  An excellent facility enjoyed by the residents, who are very well looked after.

The third event on this same day, Friday 19th June, was a delight as we had the honour of opening the Thai Massage Parlour, Gems, in their new location at the Trinity.  A family business that deserves to succeed, several of their current clients explained to me just how different and effective the treatment is and they seemed to have quite a few long term supporters who sang their praises.

The 3rd Worcester Scouts held their open day and AGM on Saturday 20th at their head quarters in Vicar Street.  Thanks to the successful application for a Lottery Grant, they have made some tremendous improvements including a new kitchen, BBQ area and an office which also serves as a well appointed Radio Amateur base.

Sunday was a big day with the LiberTea celebration of the 800th anniversary of the sealing of Magna Carta, followed by the Mayor’s Inaugural Civic Service in the Cathedral. We were so lucky with the weather – no rain, and believe me that really is a blessing when one has to wear the robes of a Councillor, they are heavy when they’re dry and when wet, they are a nightmare! This year there were no such worries; we processed in glorious sun shine!

Turnout was good and the “Chain Gang” were very well represented, the Cathedral was full and the Dean’s sermon was engaging and, as always, so well delivered. On returning to the Guildhall there was tea, coffee and light bites not to mention the barrel of Hook Norton Ale kindly donated by Ted Marshall, landlord of the Cap ‘n Gown pub in the Upper Tything, to help lubricate the Magna Carta celebrations.

A number of organisations and businesses had their official opening in the last week or so, among them were Engage Life, based in Britannia Road; Signature Care Services in St John’s and on a somewhat different note, Subway on the corner of Friar Street. Amazingly Subway celebrated their opening with a six foot long sandwich, which they photographed from all angles and then cut up to give away to people who were lucky enough to be passing by!

The Committee led by Cllr. Joy Squires, as Chairman, deserve to be congratulated for producing the first Worcester Canal Festival on Saturday 13th June, at Lansdowne Park. Supported by a great number of local people and the Canal and River Trust, (CRT), they delivered a superb day’s entertainment despite being hit by very unfortunate weather. The day however, was excellent and I was delighted to see that CRT had commissioned a work boat, to be crewed by volunteers. It is designed to help maintain the waterside, both ensuring it is litter and graffiti free, as well as keeping the shrubbery under control. This is something I campaigned for back when I was the Cabinet Member for a Cleaner and Greener City.

I hope you made it to the Royal Three Counties Show, if you did, I’m sure you will agree it was worth the effort and if you attended on the Friday, like me, you were very lucky with the weather.