MAYOR’S WEEK: 4 – 10 JUNE 2023

MAYOR’S WEEK: 4 – 10 JUNE 2023

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The Elgar Festival is for Everyone

Last weekend it was the Elgar Festival. It is a celebration of Worcester’s most famous musical son, Edward Elgar. Held annually during the weekend closest to Elgar’s birthday (2 June 1857), the festival combines symphonic and string orchestra concerts by the festival’s orchestra-in-residence, the English Symphony Orchestra, with chamber concerts, choral concerts, recitals, outdoor concerts, plays, exhibits and talks.

What a terrific week of music. It was an incredible event, the organisers must be commended for making so many of the events either free or affordable. I thoroughly enjoyed listening to two performances in which the Mayoress sang. During the Gala Concert we were treated to Elgar’s ‘The Music Makers’ and Elgar’s symphony no.1. The conductor was the internationally acclaimed artistic director Kenneth Woods.

Whilst introducing the various pieces of music Ken made remarks, to the packed Cathedral, about the parlous state of funding that the arts receive in this country. His pointed words alluded both to the funding cuts to the Arts Council England and the BBC following its recent announcements of cuts to its orchestras and the potential demise of the BBC Singers, the only full-time professional choir in the country.

This sort of got me thinking – why are these cuts happening and why is classical music seen by many as being posh and elitist? Could this be something to do with, what we know we value, and what we don’t know is not valued and so not funded?

I’m afraid so, successive governments have consistently cut music education budgets which, together with an under-valuing of the subject and greater emphasis being placed on STEM subjects, leads to fewer students studying music at GCSE and A level, and the knock-on effect of fewer pupils taking up instruments.

Many music teachers are leaving the profession, music teaching is being carried out in many schools by peripatetic staff that only some schools and parents can afford. This is now all compounded by the cost of living crisis, escalating energy costs in schools forcing head teachers into having to make very difficult decisions about what to cut. I’m afraid it’s a bit of a depressing picture of decline.

 

 

 

 

MAYOR’S WEEK: 28 MAY – 3 JUNE 2023

MAYOR’S WEEK: 28 MAY – 3 JUNE 2023

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There is a lot to learn for a new Mayor. It’s often said that it’s really only at the end of the year that the Mayor is finally fully trained up and ready to go. It’s customary for the Mayor to show pre-booked important visitors and small groups around the Guildhall. Whilst Deputy Mayor I had the chance to tag on to one of Adrian’s guided tours. Worryingly, Adrian being a proper historian and archivist set a pretty high bar to follow.

Fortunately Paul Harding, of Discover History, has now kindly trained me up to at least be able to give a basic tour. Thank you Paul. I’m sure very many Worcester residents have not really looked around the Guildhall – it really is a hidden gem. The Discover History professional guided tour of the Guildhall is competitively priced and very good.

I don’t want to give away all of Paul’s delightful tour anecdotes but I will just share a nearly two hundred year tale of Cllr Henry Clifton, Mayor of Worcester. In many rotten boroughs of the time people were quite rightly rising up to demand the vote. Cllr Clifton evidently on the wrong side of history almost died in the Lower Hall in 1831 after being struck by a brick to the head standing on the Guildhall steps whilst trying to dispel the crowd by literally reading the Riot Act.

Turning from Guildhall tours to another of the Mayor’s responsibilities that of choosing the Mayoral charity. This year the Mayor’s charity will be Age UK. The council have made great strides over the last few years to encourage more wildflowers to grow in many of our parks and roadside verges. I’d like to give a shameless plug for a talk on wildflowers to be given by the Mayoress, Katey Stephen, on Thursday 22nd June. The talk will be in the field at Battenhall Park, is family friendly and free to attend. Donations on the night warmly welcomed on behalf of Age UK.  Book here 

 

The new Mayor of Worcester, Councillor Louis Stephen, outside the Guildhall with his bike
MAYOR’S WEEK: 21 – 27 MAY 2023

MAYOR’S WEEK: 21 – 27 MAY 2023

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Sometimes it’s surprising what sparks interest. There has been a Mayor of Worcester for centuries. I am sure traditions come and go with the mood of the times. Like so many before me I was invited to have my photograph taken at the Guildhall with all the robes, neck ruffles, gloves and chain of office. And, being the first Green Mayor of Worcester, I thought I’d better make my mark. Little did I know what I was about to unleash. One of the new Mayor photos has always been taken on the Guildhall steps. Why not have some fun having one of my photos in full resplendent regalia whilst incongruously sitting on my rather tatty bike?

I made a twitter social media post with the picture saying just because I’m Mayor I’m still planning to get around the city by bike. I didn’t think I was saying anything particularly special.

My tweet went viral and I had Worcester News and BBC radio contact me for interviews wanting more on the story. Apparently city Mayors don’t normally cycle around the city. Sometimes it’s an education and a lovely surprise to know what other people think is interesting.

My first Mayoral gig, by happy coincidence, was to be invited to ride along with children on Bike Buses to North Worcester and St George’s Primary Schools. It’s great to see so many young people traveling to school by bike instead of car. Well done to Katie and Rob Collier and all the other volunteers that make this happen.

Later in the week I was invited to mark the unveiling of a new roadside milestone that has been erected on Whittington Road by the Oak Apple pub. The milestone was skilfully carved pretty much by hand by our Cathedral second-year apprentice Debbie Branford. Thank you Jan Scrine, from the Milestone society, for all that you do.

MAYOR’S WEEK: 14 – 17 MAY 2023

MAYOR’S WEEK: 14 – 17 MAY 2023

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This final week has brought together many of my year’s themes of enjoying art, culture and our heritage to improve our mental and physical well-being.

I did a Question and Answer session with pupils on a work experience session from Christopher Whitehead’s. In some ways I learned more about my year that morning than I had thought about previously!

We opened up the Wild Worcestershire Way, a series of interlinking footways around the city to showcase our natural environment. And we learned a new song, which possibly Steve is still singing now! I was sorry the Balloons were cancelled as I had some reference to politicians and hot air but they were a bit obvious.

I was worked hard on Tuesday, my last day, opening a Dementia Fair in the Guildhall. This is an issue we have experienced in our family so, as with OnSide, I was pleased to be associated with it.

I went to meet the relatives of a man killed in the First World War and only recently identified and re-buried as William Cubberley in March, while we had been in Belgium. That was a moving and fascinating story involving DNA tracing. And then we finished off with the Rainbows, youngest of the Guide movement, enjoying a trip round the Guildhall, visiting the cells, and taking seven of them to hold the Sword of State.

The same Sword was carried in before me for the last time at Annual Council. An emotional and moving experience soon washed away by the politics of the meeting!

Like my 10k Run, and the Ale Trail, I have completed the Mayoral Year at a steady pace, with the odd burst of speed, but with a real opportunity to linger and enjoy the experience when possible. I have. I hope Louis does too. GSTQ!