Mayor of Worcester Blog

The week began by joining the annual Worcestershire Battalion Boys’ Brigade for their annual Founders Day parade past Sansome Walk Baptist Church.  It was great to see so many young people attending from all over Worcestershire.

Later we listened to the final concert of the Worcester chamber music series, held at St Oswalds Chapel in The Tything. What a fine evening, and congratulations to Shulah Oliver and Kelly McKusker from the Astaria String Quartet who have worked so hard to make this weekend a great success.  Such energy and enthusiasm add so much to Worcester’s cultural life.

On Tuesday I helped out at the City Council staff induction programme where I spoke about the role of the Councillor and Mayor, then took new employees on a tour of the parlour and former cells.

Later I hosted a City Council tribute to the late George Randall, Freeman of this City. It was great to welcome his family to the Randall Room in the Guildhall and see so many former councillors and mayors who worked with George.  His death is a true loss to the City; he was one of Worcester’s ‘true men of the people’.

Raise your glasses to George Randall (Mayors Parlour)

Mid-week, Jill and I attended the annual Worcestershire Ladies Acorn lunch at Sixways.  It was great to meet Kay Alexander from BBC Midlands Today and ladies from the fundraising Committee.  I never cease to be amazed by the amount of voluntary effort there is in the city and county.

On Wednesday evening we thoroughly enjoyed the Worcester Gilbert and Sullivan Society’s production of The Mikado at The Swan Theatre.  What a fantastic performance, and congratulations to the cast, who must have spent so many hours in rehearsals, to produce such a successful   updated version of this G&S favourite.

The following day Jill and I attended a Positive Friends open day at Horizon Community Centre in aid of World Mental Health Day.  We enjoyed mingling and sampling coffee and cake,  freshly-cooked that morning.  How essential it is to provide positive daytime opportunities for people who are recovering from health problems.

Friday saw Jill and I attending the 15th Annual General Meeting for the Worcestershire Association of Carers.  The pressures on carers should not be underestimated and it is vital that the county provides adequate financial support to carers, who save society so many thousands of pounds every year.

Later I planted a tree with Councillor Alan Amos in Patterdale Drive, celebrating the completion of a £3.5 million flood alleviation scheme in Warndon.   The community has suffered from many days’ inconvenience for this essential work, which has been so successfully completed by Severn Trent.  I am confident it will prevent the serious incidence of flash flooding that residents have experienced in the past.

The week began with a special visit to one of our nominated charities,  Maggs Day Centre, where Jill and I met service users and opened the refurbished building.  It is great to see the facilities open seven days a week, with the development of many activities during the day for homeless people staying there.

The following day I visited St Stephens Church on the Droitwich Road with members of U3A’s Local History Group.  Afterwards I met Councillor Chris Cawthorne to plan a Homelessness Action Day which will take place in January.

On Wednesday we opened a new NHS dental surgery on the Malvern Road in St Johns.  It was great to meet the staff and hear of the intentions to attract more patients. St Johns is a large and important community and certainly merits the provision of a full range of community facilities like this.

Afterwards I met Alec Mackie to discuss his plans to participate in the celebrations of WWI in two years’ time.

Thursday saw Jill and I meeting exhibitors at the Eastern European Enterprise Conference – organised by Worcester and Wychavon Councils – at The Guildhall.

We had to leave early to attend the Annual General Meeting of the Worcestershire Council for Voluntary Services at The Hive.  This important organisation has had to make significant adjustments to meet a reduced budget.  It was pleasing to hear from young people about their activities and highlighted for me the need to support this age group.  Professor David Green gave a stimulating address on his work with young people at the University.

On Saturday I joined the Battlefields Trust for their Battle of Worcester Walk.  It was led by Tony Spicer who spoke about the Battle of Powick Bridge in 1642 and the western part of the Battle of Worcester in 1651.

We then went to the Ketch viewpoint and confluence of The River Teme where we concentrated on the centre of the Battle of Worcester, where Cromwell built his “The Bridge of Boats”. Thanks to all the participants for an extremely informative morning.

In the evening Jill and I attended an evening to celebrate 150 years of St Stephen’s Church, and a presentation of the history of Barbourne over the last two centuries.  Congratulations to Ann Moore who produced and wrote a fantastic play, which was so well performed by The Lavender Players.

Photo courtesy of ‘Britain from Above‘ website showing St Stephen’s Church on February 1920.

We started the week with a small family celebration for my wife Jill’s birthday.

On Monday I escorted a former French Mayor on a tour around the Guildhall and attended three meetings, the final one being the AGM for Headway, a charity which supports people who’ve suffered brain injuries.  We were pleased to meet service users and see for ourselves some of the work that this fine organisation does.

More meetings the following day, starting with one to plan activities for a homelessness exhibition in the Guildhall next year.  I am very keen to raise awareness of the issue locally.  Later that evening I chaired a meeting of the full City Council. I hope that future ones will be a little less controversial!

The city experienced another royal visit on Thursday; we welcomed HRH the Earl of Wessex to Worcester, where he performed the official opening of Dancox House at the former Vinegar Works. What a superb building conversion – and opportunity to meet so many local people connected with the forces.  It is an excellent way of preserving some of Worcester’s industrial heritage.

Friday was an extremely busy day, which started with the Mayoress and I hosting an event as part of the annual Macmillan Cancer Support World’s Biggest Coffee Morning.

A couple of meetings later, we attended the Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service’s Annual Awards Ceremony at The Assembly Room in the Guildhall.  It was inspirational to see the Awards for long service and meritorious acts of bravery, involving so many members of the fire service and lay members of the public. I think too often we take for granted the service provided by public employees.

In the evening we joined members of Worcester Operatic and Dramatic Society at their 120th Anniversary celebration at The Pear Tree Inn. This is no mean achievement; I was pleased to toast them for “120 years of entertaining Worcester”. It was great to meet so many of the members; we are avid supporters of their musicals, regularly performed at The Swan Theatre.

On Saturday we attended a Positive People event at the Worcester City Football Club, followed in the evening by The Last Night Of The Proms at St Georges Cof E in Barbourne.

Positive People event at the Worcester City Football Club

What a night; thanks to Ian Pattison and The Magdalane Orchestra for such a traditional programme, complete with Union Jacks and audience-singing!

I was delighted to help launch a week of celebration by welcoming Worcester Twinning Association members and visitors to the Guildhall to start a week of activities to mark 25 years of Twinning.

It was a particular pleasure to welcome Neville Swanson and former councillor Cliff Lord. They have been active in the association since the beginning and played major parts in cementing the relationships our city has with cities and towns in Germany, France, Lithuania and the USA.

Monday evening saw the Mayoress and I head to Evesham to join the Mayor of Evesham, Councillor Robert Raphael, for his charity Monk’s Supper.

Jill and I joined an exhibition preview on Tuesday, making the centenary of the life of Alice Ottley who played such a part in providing private education for girls in Worcester.

To the Swan Theatre on Wednesday, to see the Swan Theatre Amateur Company’s production of Edward Albee’s Who’s Afraid Of Virginia Woolf. What an excellent production – congratulations to the small cast of only four. So much hard work goes into these productions; it is a pity they are not better supported.

Jill and I attended The Myriad Centre in Barbourne on Thursday, where profoundly handicapped adults are cared for. The importance of day services cannot be underestimated, and it was clear to see how much the attendees benefit from such a supportive environment.

Later, we attended the annual City of Worcester Sports Award, held at the Cricket Ground, where I helped present the awards. It was a privilege to meet so many inspirational people, following the remarkable summer of sport.

The challenge now is to ensure the legacy of the Olympics and Paralympics is recognised in our city and to ensure facilities are available to meet the demand.

Special guests Zach Purchase and Mel Clarke, silver medalists at London 2012

The week ended as it began, with the culmination of the week of celebrations to mark the 25th anniversary of Worcester Twinning. On Friday Jill and I enjoyed the concert by The Elgar Chorale, with the selection of music from all the Twinning Countries being appreciated by all.

Saturday saw a procession with Ann of Cleves and Henry VIII in the city centre, followed by events in St Andrew’s Hall. My thanks are due to Worcester Concert Brass, local cubs and performers who made it into such a successful community event.

That evening the 25th Anniversary Dinner was held at the Guildhall, where it was great to meet visitors and Twinning Association members at the culmination of such a successful week.