Monday 25^th: The feedback on the Mayor’s Banquet last Friday (22^nd. July) has been most gratifying.

Seven French children (aged 11 – 13 years) from Le Vesinet, France, were brought by the North Worcester Venture Scheme to site-see the Guildhall. As always the visit to the cells under the Guildhall was a spooky highlight.

A few days to spare!! An opportunity to “recharge our batteries”. This next fortnight promises to be busy and exciting especially with the “Three Choirs Festival”. We have had our “half-Japanese” four year old twin grand-daughters to stay…so much for recharging our batteries as theirs seem to have unlimited energy!! They are almost bilingual: then we’ll be in trouble.

Also managed to get more planning done for the City Council’s team going to the Adentan Municipal Assembly, a District Council in Ghana, in September. This is to continue the DfID-funded “Local Economic Development” project which has been progressing so well over this last year. It just goes to show how much can be achieved with keen volunteers and a small financial resource. Thank you everyone, you are a great team.

Friday 29^th: “Half a Sixpence” is a musical based on the novel “Kipps” by H G Wells. The Worcester Operatic & Dramatic Society Youth Section (WODYS) put on a production this evening to which Jane and I were invited. It was brilliant! To see the skills of these young people was a delight. Congratulations to David Humphries (Director and Producer) and the whole WODYS’ team. Yet another example of what Worcester has to contribute to our local culture.

Saturday 30^th: The President, Rotarian Anne Pooley, of the Rotary Club of Worcester (of which the Mayor becomes a member for his / her year)  held a lunch at her home in Great Witley. A very relaxed and pleasant occasion on a lovely sunny day in our glorious Worcestershire countryside.

The City of Worcester Twinning Association held its annual Cheese and Wine Party this evening courtesy of Mrs. Nicolette Neville-Lee. “Thank you” Nicolette. It is important for members to get together to chat informally about our common interests of “twinning” with towns in Europe and the USA.

Sunday 31^st: The Annual Civic Service for the town of Ledbury and its Mayor, Cllr. Allen Conway, took place this afternoon. The procession to St. Michael’s & All Angels Church was led by the Town Crier along the narrow cobbled Church Lane. The Service included readings from John Masefield’s poetic works. Masefield (1 June 1878 – 12 May 1967) was born in Ledbury and became Poet Laureat of the United Kingdom from 1930 until his death. The Reverend Canon John Atkinson gave the address on the subject of “Nothing” in other words on what some people just do not have. Masefield’s “Wonderings” poem is rather apt:

“I never crossed the town without the sight

Of withered children suffering from the blight …

And starving groups in rags, with boots unsoled,

Blear eyed, and singing ballads in the cold”

My, how things have changed!