Mayor of Worcester Blog

We watched Queen Elizabeth’s sad and solemn funeral programmes last Monday and must say that seeing someone from Worcester, Bishop John, so closely associated with proceedings gave me a much more direct connection. It can often surprise how quickly things move on after someone leaves, work or life, and perhaps never more so than in the passing of an hereditary monarch. Times have indeed changed.

For one reason or another, it has felt that the actual interregnum has been so much longer than the reality. But now, cost of living, war in Europe, energy bills, jobs, relationships, mundanities loom again.

Also, fun of course – don’t hold back if there is excitement and enjoyment to be had. It’s not all doom and gloom, but there are serious issues to be dealt with.

One feature of the last couple of weeks that has been high on everyone’s list is that of community and coming together. I was at an award ceremony this week for people in ‘grass roots cricket’ across the county. Volunteers, from coaches to grounds staff, from young to the lifetime achievers, celebrating their love of cricket in countless towns and villages across Worcestershire, with a backdrop of the County side giving Nottinghamshire a bit of a pasting.

This was not so much about cricket, but a celebration of the value of sport and volunteering to any local community. And it was great to see a new award committed to environmental sustainability this year too.

My class from school hits 60 this year. As this coincides with these recent momentous events, it serves as a time of reflection to see what we can learn from our history and how we can change things for the better in the future, personally and institutionally.

Many mayoral engagements, cancelled out of respect, are now being rearranged if they can be, and the calendar is filling up. I still hope to see Warriors this weekend though.

Anyway, “Strictly” is back. Must be time to look forward again.

 

In Arkwright’s words, it’s been a funny old week. Mourning and reflection:  pageantry and moments of exultation. Despite years of planning, much of the detail has been last minute and so the full range of communications has had to be employed. The instancy of social media is fine, but sometimes, as at the Proclamation on the Guildhall steps, we have to resort to age-old methods of getting the message across!

Hundreds of people were part of history on the Guildhall steps at the Proclamation of the new monarch by County and then City. This was followed by a short council meeting where councillors paid their respects and tributes to Queen Elizabeth II.

There has been wall to wall coverage, tribute programmes, news report, across most TV channels 24/7, as well as daily written memories and comment. Some programmes bear the hallmark of having been made a while ago and held ‘in the can’ until ready for use. Others have been sprightly and incisive and delivered with raw immediacy. Both have their place.

For some, saturation coverage is not welcome. For political reasons, or more personal, perhaps dealing with their own grief or troubles. We must respect each other’s views and need for space at this time.

Since I opened the Condolence Books at the Guildhall last Thursday evening there has been a steady stream of hundreds of people of any age, creed, and persuasion, residents and visitors. I want to thank publicly the Guildhall staff, especially the small team of Macebearers, who worked over and above expectation to add dignity and solemnity to this week. I have been struck by the amount of children and young people expressing their sorrow and respect here, and also in the floral tributes at the Cathedral. The books are open until Tuesday 20th September.

One of the condolence messages Worcester received this week was from our twin city of Kleve, Germany. Fitting then that one of my visitors was John Cave, a retired member of staff who for many years was involved with the Twinning Association.

 

 

On Thursday afternoon the Queen died peacefully, at home. She is mourned by her children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, like so many of our families. But so much more she is mourned across the world as a part of our lives and a symbol of a generation. There are increasingly few of us who remember a time before her. There are few of us who were not touched by her. I was privileged to meet her, as a child, and on three more occasions, the last time, at The Hive opening, to speak with her.

Thursday was a surreal day. Initially shock, after seeing those pictures of meeting the new Prime Minister, then a slowly dawning realisation that this was serious. And then the inevitable announcement.

As we, in formal organisations, observe appropriate protocols, to say and do the right things, let’s not forget that someone has died. Someone whom many people felt they knew. It is unlikely that we will see her like again.

The future is full of uncertainty, of anxiety and concern. The bills still need to be paid. But the future is also one of opportunity and renewal. In projects like the Green Canopy that is exactly how The Queen saw things, and if we mourn and respect her today, it is those principles we would do best to uphold as we move into a new age.

Let me thank everyone who donated and supported our efforts in Worcester’s 10k Run last weekend. A marvellous occasion as always, and one I can now say, I have completed. Still hobbling a little but never mind. The donations page is still open at justgiving.com/crowdfunding/mayorofworcesteruk

Lastly, I was pleased to be part of the launch of a new generation of learners at the new Honeywell school in Dines Green, centring on the theme of worker bees, industrious and environmentally aware.

Now, if you will excuse me, I am off to make a marmalade sandwich.

Family, small or extended, is important in maintaining support for us. We met two grandmothers this week with a Grandparents’ Quilt of Hope, campaigning to support people who suddenly become cut off from grandchildren when a family breakdown happens.

We also met a father and daughter, both with autism, walking the length of Britain on a Spectrum Adventure. Eve was amazing, aged just seven but deciding how far and which way to go each day of the trek.

The Canoe Championships, a great event to be held here, demonstrated the importance of family in supporting all the athletes, in organising the events, and showing the continuation of paddling tradition within families, all competing at the highest levels.

One area where family, history and lineage is so important is to those affected by the International Atlantic Slave Trade and I was honoured to be asked to speak at Worcester’s first day of remembrance on 23 August, along with young people from the local BLM group. Hopefully this event will grow annually as all of us educate and confront ourselves more widely on this heinous part of our history.

A link with more modern Africa came with the launch of the autobiography by ex-Councillor David Tibbutt, recounting his family life working there. I am very keen to read his chapter on being Mayor!

We met family of the renowned sculptor and Freeman of Worcester, Sir Thomas Brock unveiling a Blue Plaque in front of his statue of Victoria at the Shirehall. Most famous for his statues of the Queen, one was removed in Agra after the partition of India in 1947. Not the only statue to be the source of contention!

Finally, a family of 15 mayors, their consorts, and friends paid tribute to recently retired Swordbearer, Frank Southam at the Guildhall. Well done Frank, and on behalf of us all, thanks. That sword is heavy, but I wish I’d seen you fillet a salmon with it.