This week began with a visit to the new B&M store in Bath Road, to cut a ribbon and allow the first customers to tour the premises. The store’s manager, Andrew Bradley, escorted us round this new facility, which offers well known brands of a very wide variety of household items at low prices.

Andrew generously donated a valuable item which will be auctioned, with many other items, for my charities on Friday 24 February in the Guildhall.

On Sunday, we were guests of the Worcestershire Chinese Association at The Guildhall. The Association’s chairman, Mr Frankie Tsang, hosted the spectacular celebration of the Chinese New Year. We are now in the Year of the Rooster, the creature said to be the epitome of fidelity and punctuality. We were entertained by firecrackers and an amazing lion dance in front of the building, followed by martial arts, salsa dancing and magic. This was a wonderful free event for all who came, helping us to celebrate the diverse cultures which enrich our city.

A very special and infrequent event took place in The Guildhall on Tuesday. France’s highest military honour, the Légion d’Honneur, was awarded by the French Consul to war veteran Thomas Bridgewater, who landed on the Normandy beaches during the Second World War and helped liberate the French from occupation. This military award was only for French citizens until President Hollande decided that foreign service men and women who helped France could also be eligible. It was good to see so many of Tom’s friends and family in our Guildhall to celebrate this great occasion.

I was delighted to meet Colin Day in the Parlour on Wednesday. Colin was born in a house at the end of Perdiswell Street, and the street sign was on the outside wall near his bedroom window. It was replaced recently. Colin asked the City Council whether he could have the old sign, and I was pleased to present it to him.