MAYOR’S WEEK: 16 – 22 FEBRUARY 2025

MAYOR’S WEEK: 16 – 22 FEBRUARY 2025

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Parlour, Tours and Pantos

This week was all about showcasing and enjoying Worcester, including our very own Guildhall. Dating back to 1721 and Grade 1 listed, it was once the seat of justice throughout the city and even housed a prison. Today it is home to the Council Chamber, the city’s former Court Rooms and the Mayor’s Parlour.

Visitors from the north of Worcester, south as far as Suffolk and east as far as France are enjoyed tours of the Guildhall this week, including the grim cells below ground and the beautiful Assembly Room, described by King George III as “a handsome gallery” when he visited in 1788.

The “handsome gallery” is the setting for my charity banquet on 28 March and I can’t wait! Some tickets are still available so do contact the Civic Office if you are free on civicoffice@worcester.gov.uk to book your place. The theme is Pride and Prejudice and dressing up is optional, but do watch this space!

It is half-term and Powick Players have put on their annual panto.  Nunnery Wood High School is the venue for Beauty And The Beast with all tickets sold. Bookings are being taken for next year and I recommend purchasing very early for Cinderella next year.

Powick Players is a not-for-profit community theatre-based group and they certainly punch way above their weight. The production was exceptional. The choreography and the costumes were outstanding. The vocals were faultless and the acting spot on, on many levels, for a panto.

A tale as old as time, it will make many of us think of the 1991 Walt Disney animation and its 2017 live action version. Written in 1740 by French novelist Gabrielle-Suzanne Barbot de Villeneuve, Beauty And The Beast reminds us that beauty lies within. The Powick Players’ production is a delight to watch on many levels.

The cast of Beauty And The Beast on stage, with the Mayor standing with them in the front row
The Mayor with the the Powick Players cast of Beauty And The Beast
MAYOR’S WEEK: 9 – 15 FEBRUARY

MAYOR’S WEEK: 9 – 15 FEBRUARY

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February Fantasia Show!

This week I combined a full week of meetings with a stand-out event, the February Fantasia Show!

The History & Heritage POD at Crowngate Shopping Centre was transformed into a catwalk.

It consisted of a backstage area and judges stand with a seating and standing area, which was more than filled with a lovely audience.

Thank you to both the Crowngate Shopping Centre and the new Coffee Hub open in the POD for allowing the event to be hosted and a quick plug for the Americano which I very much enjoyed.

The event was the brainchild of Remade Worcester, whose fabulous volunteers were involved before, during and after the event.

Remade is an environmental charity shop, a treasure trove of fabric, haberdashery, embroidery, leather, yarn and papercraft, all materials which would otherwise have ended up in landfill.

Not content with just sales it also hosts quite a few community events, regular and one-offs.

Going back to the fashion show, all the outfits worn were made from materials from the shop.

Experienced seamsters made their own and those new to haberdashery and sewing machines were given a helping hand.

Three age categories were used to judge the outfits, up to age 11; 12 to 17; and 18 and over. I was one of the three judges.

I was worried my long time ago GCSE Grade B in Art and Textiles might not be the freshest qualification for judging!

Luckily, I had an artist on one side of me and a clothier on the other, perfect.

All entrants had clearly put a serious amount of effort into their outfits.

All were scored, the numbers totalled up and prizes for first, second and third handed out.

The quality was excellent and all entrants received a certificate. The next stop for them, I’m sure, will be The Great British Sewing Bee.

MAYOR’S WEEK: 2 – 8 FEBRUARY 2025

MAYOR’S WEEK: 2 – 8 FEBRUARY 2025

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Time Travel

Two children stood in Victorian outfits

I travelled through time this week.

I was joined by companions in the form of some super work experience students, Doctor Who’s Tardis would have been very fitting.

I went back over 300 years ago, to 1717, when the Freemasons declared the first Grand Lodge in the world.

A tour of the Worcester Museum of Freemasonry was most enlightening, dispelled many myths and I even met an old friend over the coffee break.

Next, I leapt forward over 120 years, to 1837, the Victorian era, and the excellent exhibition I opened at The Commandery. I walked through Wyldgate Lane, a Victorian Worcester, which was full of real local history and artefacts.

Councillor Mel Allcott holding a large pair of scissors with two people watching

I next made the 20th century, the 1950s, with a musical production of Grease at Christopher Whitehead Language College.

The entire cast were fantastic and the live band.

I then jumped just a decade, to 1939, that was the first known use of the tradition of Lady Paramount, someone who has been chosen to award the prizes at an archery tournament.

I distributed medals for the WA Combined Archery Competition (UK Record Status).

The last move through time was back to current day, first to education, citizenship and politics at school.

I visited Fort Royal Primary School and joined in with some of the Year 5 and 6 classes. I met with the school council, elected members from across the school, in place for the year and doing a grand job.

I also visited Christopher Whitehead Language College and joined a class to talk about local government with some students who were studying politics and some who were interested in how local government works. It was great to engage with the group.

I finished with the Chinese New Celebration, hosted by the Worcester Chinese Association, Engage with China, Museum of Royal Worcester and Worcester Porcelain Works.

The year of the snake. Let it be happy and fortuitous.

MAYOR’S WEEK: 26 JANUARY – 1 FEBRUARY 2025

MAYOR’S WEEK: 26 JANUARY – 1 FEBRUARY 2025

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The “Faithfuls”

The interior of Worcester Cathedral

Our splendid Worcester Cathedral hosted the City Civic Service on Sunday. Traditionally run at the start of the Mayoral year in Spring, last year the 2024 General Election put paid to the event. All Mayoral and Deputy Mayoral duties were suspended from the May to July!

With busy schedules, Remembrance in the Autum and Christmas at the end of year, January became the next available slot. Being very British about the weather I did not foresee January as a problem and despite a wet and windy run-up, the procession from the Guildhall stayed dry and the skies cleared.

It was lovely to see so many in the Guildhall afterwards and I just wish there was more time, as there is never enough, to spend with everyone!

The service was excellent, the choir sounded beautiful and thank you to Jatinderpal Loyal, for the reading and being my chaplain for the service.

It is heartwarming to see different faiths represented in our Cathedral.

Reverend Canon John Paul Hoskins talked about our faithful city and the series The Traitors. I have not watched but it was fascinating to pick up on the analogy between the series and real life and be reminded of all those faithful around us.

Nestled on the journey between our Cathedral and Guildhall, is St Helen’s Church, with its entrance on Fish Street. Reordered, repaired and reopened in October 2023, this church is an elegant light space inside and with under-floor heating there is no need to wrap up in the winter.

On Thursday evening, I attended with the High Sherriff of Worcestershire to support the Trustees of The Trussell Trust in thanking the volunteers of the Foodbank. Not all were able to attend and whilst the volunteers far from expect a thank-you, they certainly more than deserve one.