I must be the most prolific Mayor on the ukulele – Syrian earthquake appeal this week. Thanks to the generosity of passers-by. We met old friends and workmates celebrating Laurie Gregory’s life, a vivacious and warm-hearted man committed to many causes in West Malvern who led Children’s Social Services across the county for many years.

Thanks to Worcester Concert Brass for their great range of tunes across the centuries. I am looking forward to their performance at the Elgar Festival in June. Which brings me to the master’s Dream of Gerontius, wonderfully performed in the Cathedral.

It’s a real pleasure to be part of so much different music making and performance in the City. Music was on the first day of the Competitive Arts Festival, but my visit was for poetry, prose and theatre. Claines Primary drama group who rehearse in their own time are an example of the array of talent amongst our young people.

Youth was the focus too with Young Enterprise Awards where school students displayed talents of business acumen, organisation, ideas, branding and appeal. And made some cash on the High Street.

I was also pleased to drop in to Vesta Tilley Youth Service at Sugar Daddies Café as part of the launch of a new facility for teenagers.

The exhibition of British Impressionism at the Art Gallery on the Tything is well worth the trip, linking St Ives and Cornwall with Malvern in the 19th and 20th centuries. And at the other end of town, the lunch for volunteers at the Museum of Royal Worcester was a delight. A chance to look at the collections and thank Sir Michael Perry for his work leading the Trustees over recent years.

And just time to say hi to a great new business network, Buzz, before shooting off to Belgium.