This week I had the rarity of no official mayoral engagements, which has given me the opportunity to plan for the weeks ahead. I am receiving invitations to events on a daily basis and my diary up to May, when my mayoral year ends, is filling up rapidly.

On Wednesday I had a meeting with Gill Preece, the mayor’s secretary, and Julie Micklewhite from Aspie and Bridget Stradden from the Stroke Association (my two mayoral charities) to discuss arrangements for a Charity Banquet which will be held on Friday 29th April at the Guildhall. This is going to be a fantastic evening with a Prosecco reception followed by a three-course meal, with a Charity auction and live entertainment. I hope we can sell out and raise plenty of funds for these charities that help so many people.

On Friday 25 March I am hosting a Charity concert that features Worcester Concert Brass “In Celebration” of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.  Tickets for this and the Banquet are available from The Mayor’s Office: civicoffice@worcester.gov.uk

On Wednesday evening I joined members of my Rotary Club to watch the film premiere of “Unlocking the Severn”. The film has been created by award-winning filmmaker Nina Constable and is presented by Monty Halls, successfully capturing the aims and successes of the project. Last October I attended opening by the Princess Royal of the new fish pass viewing gallery, that is a part of Unlocking the Severn Project at Diglis.

The story about the twaite Shad on the River Severn is an interesting one, and scientists have used trackers to monitor the fishes’ movements that will hopefully see them returning to their traditional spawning grounds on the upper Severn now that the series of fish passes have been constructed. There will be the opportunity for members of the public to visit the viewing gallery, the only one of its kind in the UK, in the Spring so I would strongly recommend going to their website at www.unlockingthesevern.co.uk/through-the-fish-window/