Mayor of Worcester Blog

On Friday I had the pleasure of joining the biographer and author Judy Lomax in unveiling a blue plaque for Sheila Scott.

Sheila was the first British pilot to fly solo around the world in a light aircraft. The journey took over 34 days and required many stops including a flight over the Pacific Ocean requiring expert navigation to land on a tiny atoll for refuelling. Some of the legs required being in the air for 17 hours – it was certainly an endurance test.

She was born in Worcester in 1922 and died in 1988. Sheila’s father was a city councillor and alderman. Sheila used to help serve at the family bakery and dairy shops WH Hopkins and Co. Anyone remember these shops at 28 Broad Street and 3 College Street?

Intriguingly Sheila’s first flight was over Worcester in 1929 when she was about seven years old. How did that happen? Enter Sir Alan Cobham.

Alan Cobham was an interesting chap – in 1929 he started his ambitious Municipal Aerodrome Campaign where he toured Britain encouraging town councils to build local airports in the hope of drumming up business for his activities as an aviation consultant.

Each event would start with free flights for local dignitaries followed by free flights for local schoolchildren.

The day would finish with as many paid-for pleasure flights as could be managed for the public, the income from which would pay his expenses and make him a profit.

We are not sure where the free flights happened – but this was in the early days of aviation – maybe it was on a field at Perdiswell?

Sir Alan Cobham was a key figure in aviation, became a sponsor of Sheila and was instrumental in securing Worcester’s airport (at Perdiswell) in the late 1930s.

Find out more: Sheila Scott Biography by Judy Lomax

 

Last week I attended the Veterans’ and Armed Forces Mini Conference organised by Cllr Pat Agar the city council’s Armed Forces Champion.

I’ve never had much involvement with the Armed Forces and this was a chance for me to listen and to learn.

We may not have war in this country but a European war in Ukraine and what is happening in places like Niger in Africa remind us that peace is both precious and fragile.

Mark Jackson OBE gave a talk about the D Day landings in preparation for next year’s commemoration of the 80th anniversary. Incredible bravery was displayed. It was also interesting to be reminded about the meticulous level of logistical planning involved, encapsulated by the phrase ‘tactics is for novices, logistics is for professionals’. How true, there is surely a lesson here for business life too.

However sometimes the interesting insights don’t come from a conference presentation but from the small talk and chat over a coffee. Whilst talking about the rapidly advancing age profile of many of the veterans and the fact that active service was becoming a more distant memory for the general public, one of the veterans said to me, “most people have forgotten about service and sacrifice”. Getting a bit older myself I found myself nodding in agreement.

During the mini conference I also learned about the great work that Stepway does in supporting veterans to survive and thrive in the civilian world. Also, the sense of community and friendship provided by the Armed Forces & Veterans’ Breakfast Clubs that meet monthly in Worcester. Another avenue of support is through the NHS where veterans can get advice from the NHS website. We also learned that veterans can self-refer themselves via that website to access mental health support.

For me, the veterans’ mini conference was a window into another world. I know a little bit more than I did before. A big thank you to everyone at Stepway for all you do to support our veterans.

 

 

It has been described as “one of the hidden jewels in the city’s crown”, but after winning the BBC Hereford & Worcester Make A Difference Green Award last week, Worcester Community Garden is bound to become much less “hidden” in future.

If you’ve never been before, Worcester community garden nestles alongside Worcester racecourse on Pitchcroft. It is an entirely volunteer-run charity which works in partnership with the NHS, Mencap, Age UK and various mental health charities to provide a safe, tranquil green space for people to work, learn and meet new friends.

The recent addition of an outdoor public living room on the site, which I was delighted to open officially on 27 August, provides a further opportunity to enjoy this lovely green space.

Being on the side of Pitchcroft means the site is prone to annual flooding, and the floods are getting worse year on year. Some of the ideas the volunteers have implemented to mitigate the worst impacts of the floods are inspiring – building up soil levels to raise the height of the fruit trees in its orchard, a floating tool store and office and even floating beehives, which produce delicious local honey. There’s also a solar powered hand washing station for volunteers to use before sitting down to eat lunch together, an important part of the day, and a chance to sit and chat and put the world to rights.

The community garden works alongside nature, growing its beautiful vegetables, fruit and flowers, which you can purchase on site, without chemicals and without air miles.

With over 4,500 visitors already this year, the volunteers have become adept at showing people round this amazing site and you can be sure of a warm and friendly welcome yourself if you decide to drop in. For more information see: www.worcestercommunitygarden.org.uk

 

 

Last weekend saw the return of the Worcester City Runs for their ninth year in Worcester. I had been aware that in previous years a lot of runners appeared on a Sunday morning in September, but had little understanding of the scale and importance of this for the city until I was asked to start and finish the races this weekend.

On Saturday, Paula Radcliffe hosted the ‘Families on Track’ event, where mums, dads, kids and grandparents enter as a unit and complete the 10km course in relay. This is a fun race where adults and children run together involving everyone whatever their age or ability. A great way to encourage children into exercise and a healthy lifestyle.

Sunday saw the Junior Run, 10K Run and Worcester Half Marathon all run in relatively quick succession, which is testament to the organisers. What struck me was the variety of runners, from our future athletes in the Junior Run to an 86-year-old competitor in the half marathon. There was talk of records being broken by established athletes, large amounts of money being raised by ordinary people and there was even a team dressed as a bobsleigh.

The two day event attracts 4000 runners to the city, both local and from afar. Walking home after the event, I could see that the city cafes and restaurants were buzzing with medal wearing contestants and their families bringing welcome trade to our local businesses on a Sunday morning.

Congratulations to all the competitors and to the winners. I take my hat off to you for all the hard work preparing and all the money raised. The work now starts for Worcester’s tenth anniversary of this event in 2024.