Our busy week started with the opening of a new “pub” inside Shaw Red Hill Care Home. A room converted into a pub-like bar was packed out for the grand opening. What a great idea to brighten up the lives of disabled and elderly residents!

We had great pleasure in opening the Worcester Literary Festival, and were entertained by young people with considerable literary talent reading their prize-winning competition entries. The three finalists for Worcestershire’s Poet Laureate performed their works and Suz Winspear was the worthy winner.

The Queen’s 90^th birthday celebrations dominated our weekend, starting with a visit to Fort Royal School’s Royal Hullabaloo. The school educates primary age special needs children and everyone enjoyed the fun. The head and deputy head teachers greeted the mayoress and me, disguised in face masks as Prince Phillip and the Queen! Friendly, happy and enthusiastic children dressed in red, white and blue were entertained by musicians and a choir from Christopher Whitehead Language College.

On Saturday morning we started the Rotary Club’s Board March and in the afternoon the Deputy Mayor and Mayoress, Cllr Steve McKay with wife Alison, welcomed a large group of nonagenarians to Tea for the Queen in the Guildhall. Thanks to Marks & Spencer for generously donating lots of very tasty cakes!

Sunday afternoon was the mayor’s civic service. My reception for the Queen in the Guildhall was followed by a procession to the packed Cathedral. As well as marking the start of my year of service as mayor, the Queen’s 90^th birthday was also celebrated. Bishop John delivered a memorable sermon and the Cathedral choir was joined by the Worcestershire Youth Choir and Orchestra. Talented singers and musicians from our county schools filled the vast space in the Cathedral with superb music, including Handel’s Zadok the Priest and an anthem composed around 1575 by William Byrd for Queen Elizabeth I.