Mayor of Worcester Blog

Last Sunday the city, county and nation were able to gather in large numbers to commemorate the fallen in wars and conflicts. As Mayor, one of the greatest honours and duties is to lay a wreath at the War Memorial outside the Cathedral and join in the thousands who gather for the moving ceremony.

Before the outside public service, another is held in the Cathedral.  I laid a wreath in St. George’s Chapel, as did the Vice Lord-Lieutenant of Worcestershire, Brigadier Roger Brunt CBE DL and other senior military officers. After both services the Vice Lord-Lieutenant and I took the salute as uniformed organisations both military and non-military marched past.

In the afternoon a small ceremony was held at St. John’s Cemetery at the grave of Geoffrey Anketell Studdert Kennedy MC, known to many simply as “Woodbine Willie”. He was the vicar of St. Pauls, Worcester and served as an army chaplain as well as being a war poet. The Deputy Mayor, Councillor Adrian Gregson read out one of his poems.  After laying a wreath I said a few words about how he inspired my father, who like Studdert Kennedy, was a socialist cleric and devoted his ministry to serving the impoverished.

On Thursday I was delighted to attend the Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service Worcestershire’s awards at the Guildhall. The medals and awards were presented by Fire Authority chairman Councillor Kit Taylor, Vice Lord-Lieutenant of Worcestershire, Brigadier Roger Brunt CBE DL, the High Sheriff of Herefordshire Richard Amphlett and Chief Fire Officer Jon Pryce.

On Friday lunchtime I joined members of the Worcester Ukulele Club, who were raising funds for Children in Need in Crowngate shopping centre. The BBC fundraising campaign has been running since 1927 and as a Friday night telethon since 1980.  It has benefitted countless numbers of children in Worcester over the years.

Last Saturday afternoon the mayoress and I attended the Royal Life Saving Society Honours presentation in the Cathedral. These are national awards, and recipients had travelled from as far as the Republic of Ireland and Northern Scotland to attend.

In the evening the Worcestershire Symphony Orchestra held their first concert since the Covid pandemic began, at St. Martin’s Church. The mayoress and I were treated to Dvorak’s Carnival Overture, Beethoven’s Triple Concerto (featuring solo performances by Svetlana Mochalova (Cello), Anne Bolt (Piano) and Martin Cropper (Violin)), and Elgar’s Symphony No. 1.

On Sunday I travelled to Redditch to attend the Borough’s Civic Service. The Mayor Councillor Gareth Prosser’s talented granddaughter performed an excerpt from Roland Dahl’s Matilda, who she is currently playing in the stage musical.

Thursday was Armistice Day.  I joined the ceremony at the War Memorial outside the Cathedral and laid a wreath on behalf of the City of Worcester. In the afternoon I attended an honours presentation in the Guildhall. The presentation was by the Vice Lord-Lieutenant, Brigadier Roger Brunt CBE to Richard John Campbell, who received an MBE.  British Empire Medals were also presented to Tonia Enderbury, the Chief Officer of Droitwich CVS and Craig Browne, vice-chairman of Droitwich Rugby Club.

On Friday afternoon the mayoress and I went to Sixways to attend the Cecil Duckworth Memorial Lunch. Back in 2009 when my wife was mayor, he was granted Freedom of the City of Worcester.

Finally, on the Friday evening we went to Worcester Sixth Form College to see their dazzling production of Chicago.

As we enter November, during the early part of this month we focus on remembering those who made the ultimate sacrifice to defend our freedoms.  We also recognise and celebrate those who have gained their academic and vocational qualifications.

On Sunday the mayoress and I joined other dignitaries in Gheluvelt Park for the Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters Regimental Association Service. The service was conducted by Rev Colin Butler and wreaths were laid at the memorial. Afterwards I joined members of the Regimental Association at Barbourne Ex-Servicemen’s Club.

On Monday I was at the University of Worcester Graduation Dinner in the Worcester Arena. It was a fantastic occasion – especially for the graduates from 2020 and 2021 at the dinner. I was seated next to Christopher Burdon, who was awarded a University Fellowship at the Graduation Ceremony in the Cathedral the following day.

It was a privilege to attend the following morning’s graduation ceremony and see the many nursing graduates receive their degrees. The University Chancellor HRH The Duke of Gloucester was in attendance and in my capacity as Mayor, I was honoured to be seated next to him on the platform. Before the graduation ceremony we were given a tour of the newly opened Undercroft at the Cathedral; this space is already proving its worth for educational and cultural activities.

On Wednesday it was time to recognise the achievements of apprentices across Herefordshire and Worcestershire at the Annual Apprentice Awards Evening at Sixways Stadium. Certificates were presented to apprentices in Commerce and Engineering, with special awards for those with outstanding performance. Due to Covid restrictions last year awards for both 2020 and 2021 were given out.

Finally, as I mentioned in my column last week, Worcester has just hosted the Elgar Festival. On Saturday the mayoress and I attended the Gala Concert in the Cathedral and heard a fantastic rendition of Elgar’s Enigma Variations performed by the Worcestershire based English Symphony Orchestra.

 

This week has been relatively quiet regarding mayoral engagements, probably a reflection on it being half term. On Sunday morning I joined members of the Worcester Vigornia Rotary Club in planting crocus bulbs in St. Andrew’s Gardens to mark “End Polio Now Day” – an annual event held on 24 October. The vaccine developed 65 years ago by Dr Jonas Salk has meant Polio has almost been eradicated worldwide and only exists in a few pockets where there is still resistance to the vaccine. Food for thought while we are advised to take our Covid and Flu immunisations.

On Thursday I was pleased to welcome Lord Richard Faulkner to the Guildhall to give the Mayor’s Annual Lecture on Railways of Worcester, Past, Present and Future. As a bit of a train buff myself, I was thrilled to hear his fascinating talk at this event that raised funds for my mayoral charities.

On Friday I opened the Severn Angels Housing and Support accommodation which supports homeless women in Worcester. After cutting the ribbon I gave a short speech about the homeless issue in Worcester and why we need to collectively come together to tackle this situation and improve the quality of life for these individuals. The event stressed importance of same-sex accommodation to help end homelessness for women.

Worcester loves a festival, and this weekend we celebrate the life and works of Sir Edward Elgar. This festival began in 2018 and came about as a result of a motion to Council from my previous fellow ward councillor Alan Feeney. On Friday evening I attended the Festival Launch Reception, followed by a concert featuring Elgar’s Strings with Raphael Wallfisch and the English Symphony Orchestra.

There are many events taking place over the weekend.  Further information on how to purchase tickets can be found on the festival website at https://elgarfestival.org.

This morning I am outside the Guildhall for the launch of the 2021 Royal British Legion Worcestershire County Poppy Appeal. This is always a moving occasion, where representatives from the British Legion are in attendance and the bugler sounds the Last Post.