Mayor of Worcester Blog

Sweets, history, ancient and modern, and questions of morality have made to an interesting week at the coal face.

In mourning the passing of Mr Simms sweet shop we must say, long live Mr D! We opened a new venture, same premises on the High Street and bought a few samples for later.

I was with the Council’s Army Covenant Champion to meet veterans young and old with the Shadow Minister for the Armed Forces, Luke Pollard MP. These trips are always interesting and an opportunity to reflect on our recent history and Worcester’s long engagement with the military and public service.

That longer history was reflected at a meeting of a resurgent Partnership concerning the Battle of Worcester in 1651. A lot of our modern identity is rooted in that last battle of the English Civil Wars, not least our heritage and tourism offer so a drive to raise awareness with the aim of education and economic investment is very welcome. Events and visitor trails are promised. With the support of the Mayor, the MP and the Joint Leader of the Council let’s hope for progress.

And so to morality. Whether your favourite version is Frank Sinatra or Louis Armstrong (mine), Mack the Knife is a classic song – but who knew it was from the Threepenny Opera, written by Brecht, based on an 18th century satire of Italian operas? Well the Sixth Form College do now – and they delivered a slightly cleaned up (really???) production with a talented and emotional performances. The leads were great and a strong chorus and rhythmic band backed them up wonderfully in a play of misery and questionable morals. There was no place to hide on the front row, from the beggars and the tarts but I shall treasure my invitation to the coronation!

 

The Almshouses provided by Worcester Municipal Charities are a key partner in providing social housing, not through new build, but through adapting and renovating their existing properties. It was indeed wonderful to be able to open, along with our MP, another four flats in Ingelthorpe’s Yard at the back of the Hopmarket last week. WMC now have 100 flats for the single homeless and retired. Even more astonishing is that this charity has been going since the 1590s but a sad sign we still need them in the 21st century. It was great to see old friends and colleagues at the event too, people dear to me over the last 35 years.

At the other end of the scale, the Apprenticeship Awards for schemes run through Hereford and Worcester Group Training. Around 300 people attended Sixways (can’t say that too often these days) for the ceremonies, certificates and excellence awards. Vocational apprenticeships are as valuable as qualifications achieved in academia, plus you get paid! And they are not only for young people leaving school and college, but a large number of people with jobs are using the apprenticeship model to further their careers or even change careers. Really well done!

In between I had a long conversation with the City Council Managing Director about what is going on now and planned for the future in Worcester, across art, culture, employment, investment, development, heritage, tourism, housing, cost of living, flooding, and of course Millwall.

Worcester Twinning Association met this week to receive reports from the various towns we are linked with in France, Germany and Lithuania, and beyond. Indeed I had had New Year greetings to us all from our sister city in China, Hezhou, ahead of the Chinese New Year celebrations due next week. It’s the year of The Rabbit, in case you were wondering.

 

 

 

I read the Mayor’s Column this week. No, I mean I read it. Out loud. For the Talking Newspaper. Last week’s sounded great – one of my better ones I am sure you agree! The Talking Newspaper has been around Worcester for over 40 years and is doing a great job, adapting with technology and run by volunteers  (new volunteers are always welcome!) so that people with sight impairments can keep up with local news.

One of the more predictable events of this New Year, with all that rain, is of course the havoc it brings to our Severn flood plain. I hope those most affected have been able to develop some mitigation and prevention, and know where to go for support and advice. Natural and captivating, it is also worrying, unpleasant, dangerous even, for those caught up in it. And a cold snap will bring its own problems, especially in these financially challenging times.

In advance of Chinese New Year I hosted a small party of Chinese students this week. They are studying at our University which has a great reputation in China. With local businesses I visited our sister city of Huizhou a few years ago, along with Hezhou, the wider Guangdong Province and that area of the South China Sea. Really interesting experience and it was great to talk to these young people about their culture and their experiences of Worcester (all good by the way).

I also met the Conservation Officer of SAVE, a national heritage organisation, who lives in Worcester, to discuss various projects and their implications and opportunities. Ironically I had also been to look at progress inside the Scala Theatre. It is a beautiful building and this will be a fantastic resource when it is fully restored and operating as an arts venue.

 

 

Ever noticed how ‘resolution’ is only one letter away from ‘revolution’? I wonder if our resolutions can really bring revolutionary change to our lives – be nice to think so!

I’ve spent this week thinking and planning for the remaining few months before May’s curtain falls on my mayoralty. There are still plenty of things to do and opportunities to raise funds for my two charities.

Severn Arts have been doing lots of new work recently with the range of innovative young people in the city. They are really demonstrating how engaging in arts and cultural activity helps mental and physical wellbeing. OnSide work in mental health, social prescribing, wellbeing and support and are focused on empowering people to make fair and informed decisions. Everyone is entitled to fair treatment by what can often be bureaucratic challenges for the best of us. I have found working with both charities rewarding and eye-opening.

Just as long as I have still got bruised toes and a sore Achilles from the Run in September, my donations page at Just Giving remains open and will continue to support events this year: justgiving.com/crowdfunding/mayorofworcesteruk.

My engagement diary is also filling up with visits to the Guildhall from local groups of all ages and abilities, as well as commitments for me to visit you – awards ceremonies, opening new businesses, celebrating and supporting our city and its residents and economy.

I joined some of my fellow councillors for a festive meal this week. Nothing fancy, just very good fare in a local independent restaurant. It may be dry January for some but there are still plenty of ways to support our amazing hospitality industry who have suffered so much in the last few years. In my 60th year I will certainly be doing my best to bolster their trade where I can!