How can we make the most of Worcester’s rich heritage and attract more visitors to the city?

This was the question on the minds of everyone who attended the City Council’s presentation of “Worcester, the Civil War City,” at the Guildhall. Consultants confirmed something Worcester people already know: The Civil War is in Worcester’s DNA. 

The Commandery is at the heart of our city’s story. When you visit this atmospheric building, you can almost smell the gunpowder. And where else can you find a civil war battle in a cathedral city with a riverside and a wealth of historic buildings? The shopping is terrific, too! In short, Worcester is unique.  Encouragingly, 70% of people recently surveyed were keen to visit a city with heritage assets like ours.

Dancers at the Blessed Edwards’ Performing Arts Evening performed tap, modern and ballet routines, while music and vocals ranged from classical to pop, as well as musical drama. I particularly enjoyed the selection of songs from their previous bravura performance of Les Miserables.

Worcester Concert Brass gave us a wonderful evening of music with a local flavour in aid of the mayor’s charities. They played favourites, such as Elgar’s Nimrod, Holst’s Jupiter, and the Malvern Suite by Philip Starke. The concert concluded with the world premiere of Faithful City by Chris Licence – you can clearly hear the river and the bustle of the city centre in this lively work.  Many thanks to the band for a memorable evening!

Finally, I would like to say two very big thank yous to Frankie Tsang and the Worcester Chinese Association, and to the Worcester Male Voice Choir, who have raised a total of £4,300 for the Mayor’s charities. It was a magnificent effort and greatly appreciated.