Mayor’s Week, 3 – 9 October 2011

Mayor’s Week, 3 – 9 October 2011

Tuesday 4th: Well, it wasn’t a restful weekend. Where do four year old twin grand-daughters get all their energy? There are 48 letters in the Hirahana Japanese alphabet and they know them already: they are way ahead of me.

Wednesday 5th: My three charities (Leukaemia Care, Noah’s Ark and Worcester Farmers’ Overseas Action Group) met with me this morning. In spite of the economy we still hope for a good turnout for the “1920’s Murder Mystery Evening” on Friday 14th October. I called into the Party Shop in Angel Place to see what is available to give a 1920’s attire flavour: a great range.

As we have seen in the local press “Noah’s Ark” is going through a difficult financial period. The work this charity does for bereaved children is vital. Let us all give all the support we can afford.

My passion for Africa is well known so I was delighted to invite a group of sixth formers from the Royal Grammar School Worcester to the Parlour to hear about their proposed expedition to Tanzania in July next year. I found out about this venture when I attended the visit by The Princess Royal on 19th September. RGS Worcester has had links with Emboreet, in a remote area south of Arusha, since 2007. While in Emboreet the students will be helping the local community by working at Simanjiro Primary School. I have no doubt that they will make a real impact with a lot of hard work. In the meantime they need to raise their own funds. I look forward to hearing more about their progress.

Thursday 6th: Representatives of the Rotary Club of Worcester came to discuss our joint charity dinner event on Friday 10th. February 2012. It will be a great evening to celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee of her accession to the throne. Don’t miss this “Street Party” in the Guildhall and dust off your “Coronets and Tiaras”.
A non-Mayoral afternoon spent in the Planning Committee.

Friday 7th: Harry Turner, Chairman of the Worcestershire Acute Hospitals’ NHS Trust, took Jane and me on a tour of the Worcestershire Royal Hospital. During my time as a Consultant Physician (1976 – 1998) in Worcester I worked only in the Worcester Royal Infirmary (Castle Street and Ronkswood). Today we were taken to see the Critical Care Unit, Maternity and the ward caring for people after colorectal surgery. Everywhere we went was spotless… the staff had had less than 24 hours’ notice of our visit. Cheerfulness, enthusiasm and dedication to patient care and excellence were clear. I was especially impressed by the colorectal surgical unit where a young surgeon had pioneered a care programme that enables the majority of patients after major surgery to be discharged within five days. I was also delighted to see several nurses with whom I had worked over 25 years ago still there and doing a fantastic job.

Worcestershire Royal Hospital
Worcestershire Royal Hospital

At midnight on 4th August 1914 there were five Empires (Austro-Hungarian, German, Russian, French and British) at war. The “Great War” had begun and by 11th. November 1918 nine million combatants would be killed. 2014 will be the Centenary of the outbreak of the First World War. We need to plan for that year so I convened a meeting in the Parlour of various interested colleagues including Lord Faulkner (Chairman, Parliamentary All-Party War Heritage Group), Annette Summers (Royal British Legion, County Offices), Councillor Adrian Gregson, Allan Poyner (RBL, Worcester Branch). We had a fascinating “brain-storming” listing a wide range of ideas. We set up a small sub-group to take the planning forward. Send us your ideas.

The Rotary Club of Worcester held its President’s Night Dinner in the Orangery of the Crown & Sandys Hotel in Ombersley. A truly excellent and most enjoyable evening. A sincere “thank you” to the President, Anne Pooley, and Hilary Day and many others who worked so hard for the success of this event.

Saturday 8th: Had our influenza jabs today. Don’t forget yours.

The Midland Festival Chorus was founded in 1975 under the Musical Directorship of Malcolm Goldring. The concert in the packed Cathedral this evening was outstanding. We were treated to the “Magnificat” and “Orchestral Suite No. 3 in D” by Johann Sebastian Bach (1685 – 1750) and the “Great Mass in C Minor” by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756 – 1791).

Sunday 9th: This week’s “Mayor’s Blog” comes to 781 words: now I need to précis it down to about 380 words for my weekly “Mayor’s Diary” for the “Worcester News” and send off this evening. I was taught the art of précis when I was at school: an invaluable skill which sadly seems not to be taught so much these days.

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