The week began by joining the annual Worcestershire Battalion Boys’ Brigade for their annual Founders Day parade past Sansome Walk Baptist Church.  It was great to see so many young people attending from all over Worcestershire.

Later we listened to the final concert of the Worcester chamber music series, held at St Oswalds Chapel in The Tything. What a fine evening, and congratulations to Shulah Oliver and Kelly McKusker from the Astaria String Quartet who have worked so hard to make this weekend a great success.  Such energy and enthusiasm add so much to Worcester’s cultural life.

On Tuesday I helped out at the City Council staff induction programme where I spoke about the role of the Councillor and Mayor, then took new employees on a tour of the parlour and former cells.

Later I hosted a City Council tribute to the late George Randall, Freeman of this City. It was great to welcome his family to the Randall Room in the Guildhall and see so many former councillors and mayors who worked with George.  His death is a true loss to the City; he was one of Worcester’s ‘true men of the people’.

Raise your glasses to George Randall (Mayors Parlour)

Mid-week, Jill and I attended the annual Worcestershire Ladies Acorn lunch at Sixways.  It was great to meet Kay Alexander from BBC Midlands Today and ladies from the fundraising Committee.  I never cease to be amazed by the amount of voluntary effort there is in the city and county.

On Wednesday evening we thoroughly enjoyed the Worcester Gilbert and Sullivan Society’s production of The Mikado at The Swan Theatre.  What a fantastic performance, and congratulations to the cast, who must have spent so many hours in rehearsals, to produce such a successful   updated version of this G&S favourite.

The following day Jill and I attended a Positive Friends open day at Horizon Community Centre in aid of World Mental Health Day.  We enjoyed mingling and sampling coffee and cake,  freshly-cooked that morning.  How essential it is to provide positive daytime opportunities for people who are recovering from health problems.

Friday saw Jill and I attending the 15th Annual General Meeting for the Worcestershire Association of Carers.  The pressures on carers should not be underestimated and it is vital that the county provides adequate financial support to carers, who save society so many thousands of pounds every year.

Later I planted a tree with Councillor Alan Amos in Patterdale Drive, celebrating the completion of a £3.5 million flood alleviation scheme in Warndon.   The community has suffered from many days’ inconvenience for this essential work, which has been so successfully completed by Severn Trent.  I am confident it will prevent the serious incidence of flash flooding that residents have experienced in the past.