Mayor of Worcester Blog

During my year as Mayor I have met so many interesting organisations and this week was no exception when I came across Worcester Language Exchange.

Frances Burton, who set it up, told me: “It was an accident really. That’s the truth to how Worcester Language Exchange began.”

Fran had moved to Worcester from Lincoln and was missing after work live jazz, where she met with friends. She had got used to the luxury of being immersed into the weekend by Friday at 5:30pm! At the time of her arrival in Worcester, Covid had locked down many social groups and so she started a French and wine group on a Friday straight after work. Through links made on the Nextdoor App, a French table formed in a local café. It became the highlight of her week.

Soon, along with French, they had German, Spanish, Korean and Welsh seakers. One day, they even had a Japanese table. It grew so quickly. Not only that but people came for so many unexpected reasons: diagnoses of early onset dementia, recovering from a head injury, bereavement, needing friendship. We all know what it’s like to be a broken chariot at times. In this age where individualism is more extreme than we have ever known it in our lifetimes, what we seek is community. The Worcester Language Exchange goes a long way to providing it and they hope everyone feels more than welcome.

So, whether you want to brush up on your lingo or support the English speaking table, come over to The Granary in St Martin’s Quarter. Bring some food or drink to share. Join a table or tables of your choice: French, German, Spanish, Welsh, Ukrainian, British Sign Language English as a Second Language. The table will run when people come!

Despite Brexit, it’s great to see organisations such as the Language Exchange and the Twinning Association thriving.

Worcester Language Exchange meet on the second and fourth Friday of the month at 5:30pm-7:30pm. Google them for more information.

Last week I unveiled a bench with Worcester’s u3a in memory of their former member, Elizabeth Coxon.

The new bench is positioned on the riverside near the Watergate ferry steps for the benefit of residents and visitors wishing to sit for a while. Liz loved watching clouds so the bench plaque is simply inscribed “Sit awhile and watch the clouds.”

Thank you to Worcester u3a for making this bench possible. For very many older people and those with disabilities, a bench and ideally a series of benches, is the difference between being able to go for a walk and not.

Benches are so important – they are truly amazing things. A simple bench enables; walking, sitting, meditating, looking at the passers-by, the swans, people rowing or running past. A bench is somewhere to nurse a child, perhaps for lovers to meet, a tourist to eat chips or a shop worker to eat a lunchtime sandwich. A bench and somewhere to sit is at least some dignity to the homeless.

Ever thought of the etiquette of bench sitting? Sitting in the centre says, ‘go away’. Sitting at one end says, ‘there’s room one more’ and invites a ‘Is it OK for me to sit here?’ The humble bench makes all this happen.

Last week was a varied but quieter week for Mayoral engagements. The Mayoress and I had the pleasure of being invited to a Bulgarian dancing community group.

We received a warm welcome of traditional bread that guests dip in a pot of honey, washed down with a glass of Bulgarian red wine. It was evidently a very popular event with people travelling some distance – from elsewhere in the county and beyond. Many of the younger generation were born in the UK and the mums, dads and grandparents understandably want to keep their culture and language alive.

Of course, we were dragged up onto the dance floor and what looked easy when sitting down was actually quite complicated and turned out to be very good exercise. I’ve never been to Bulgaria but my brief encounter seeing their dancing, their warm reception and trying their food certainly made me think about one day visiting their country.

Last Tuesday I received a group of twenty or so teenage students who had travelled from the Palestinian West Bank to learn more about our culture. I chatted to one of the organisers to learn more about why they were visiting the UK. They are here to learn about our culture but also, they are here as ambassadors for their country so we may know them and understand them better too. Teenagers are teenagers the world over – who doesn’t enjoy a selfie holding the ceremonial sword in the Mayor’s Parlour?

The week ended with an invitation to watch the musical show ‘Little Shop of Horrors’ put on by Christopher Whitehead Language School. It showed for four nights and was a sell-out each night. It was a stunning performance and pupils, staff and supporting parents should feel extremely proud – well done! It was all the more impressive given the current funding pressures our schools face in providing drama and music.

After the show I was introduced to Jack Tompkins, the production’s technical manager, a past pupil of the school who set up a very successful shop fitout company, who has been extremely generous with both time and money with his support of the school theatre.

 

 

Last weekend it was Chinese New Year celebrations in Worcester. Well over a thousand people attended – it was a truly spectacular occasion. There was a dragon dance, food, Chinese tea drinking, music and lots of entertainment for children of all ages and it was all free to access.

I have to confess that despite this having run for over twenty years, to my shame, this was my first visit. Why was that? Maybe I thought CNY was just for Chinese people – looking at the crowd around me this was evidently not true. If you have not been before, maybe put a marker in your diary for next year.

The celebrations were hosted by the Museum of Royal Worcester – thank you for so generously opening your doors for everyone to see the amazing collection of fine china on display. All things oriental and the love of fine chinaware was becoming ever more popular in the eighteenth century. Glove making and the wool industry were in decline and so it was that a new industry was created in the city with the creation of the porcelain works that became the world-famous Royal Worcester Porcelain works.

There’s a fascinating history to how the factory was started. Step forward Dr John Wall, born in Powick in 1708 as the only son of Mr John Wall a former Mayor of Worcester. Dr John Wall was an incredibly talented man, he studied at Worcester College in Oxford in 1726, developed a love for fine art, became a consulting doctor in 1739 and – as if he was not busy enough – in 1751 managed to persuade a consortium of 13 local businessmen to invest in the risky task of starting a new factory. For more info see the Royal Worcester Porcelain website: www.museumofroyalworcester.org

It’s clear that the UK’s cultural ties with China are long standing and enduring – not least our mutual love of tea drinking and fine china.