Mayor of Worcester Blog

I’ve had some interesting experiences during my year as Mayor, including one recently where Freda and I enjoyed the delights of fried “Crickets”!! There were other types too – chocolate coved crickets, powdered crickets and biscuits containing ground crickets!  Where was this I hear you asking?  Well, the occasion was “WattFest”, which was held in the Angel Centre and was a community event in celebration of Earth Hour, a worldwide movement to raise awareness of climate change.  Their commendable vision is to have “a world where people can live well without compromising the ability of future generations to do the same”. Their website is worth a visit and can be found here: http://www.worcesterrootsfoundation.org.uk/

Meadow Court Care Home laid on an afternoon tea party for residents which proved to be a really lovely event. Apart from some delicious food, tea and coffee, a singer had been arranged to entertain those present and entertain she did with a brilliant performance, thoroughly enjoyed by everyone present.  It was clearly an uplifting experience for residents and visitors alike.

The following day the Mayoress and I were invited to open a new wing in the Perry Manor Care Home, close to the Hospital along Newtown Road. (This being my fourth event in care homes across the city has made me wonder if my P.A., Gill, is sending me a message!  As my Mayoral year is coming to an end, is she sending me hints of life to come, post The Guildhall?)  Back to Perry Manor, a beautifully equipped home and a friendly and inviting environment.  I remember wondering, as I drove by when the building first began to rise from its foundations, if it was to be an extension to the hospital.  However, as the building work has progressed, it has become clear that this was something different – and different it certainly is, providing a great environment for the residents.

Sadly our High Sherriff stood down on the 31 March after completing his year of Office. Sir Antony Winnington and his wife, Lady Alexandra Winnington, have been a delight and a pleasure to work with and Freda and I will miss them greatly. Through the medium of this blog I would like to express my thanks for all that they have done for Worcester during their year and also to thank them for their friendship.  They have both been great and it has been an honour to work with them.  On a positive note, our new High Sherriff is Sir Nicholas Lechmere and I greatly look forward to working with him during my remaining time in Office.

The ceremony to declare a new High Sherriff, which is the oldest position in our land, was held at Shire Hall in the Court Room. There is a High Sheriff in every county in England and Wales, and their history and tradition goes back before the Norman Conquest. The Office is the oldest Royal appointment. The modern day High Sheriff has a very different role and function to that of his ancestors, but none the less plays an important role in our society today. Further information may be obtained at  http://www.highsheriffs.com/Index.htm

A new tree was planted to mark the official opening of the new houses in Coopers Close, built by Nexus and to a very high standard. Energy efficient, beautifully designed and a million miles away from the old style estates, the new residents loved them too and said that they were so pleased to be living there.  As well as providing high quality housing, the development also removed a problem site where a number of deteriorating garages were attracting anti-social behaviour on quite a large scale.  So a good effort all round and a development that Nexus should rightly be proud of.

Val Hibbutt gave a talk about glove making in the very appropriate setting of the Fownes Hotel. It was very well attended, in fact so well that addition chairs had to be found – and even with them one chap ended up standing!  Val took us through the history of glove-making here in Worcester and it was absolutely fascinating.  I hadn’t realised just how big a business it was and that there were so many premises employed in their manufacture and, indeed, so many people.  The main business was of course leather gloves, so in addition to the making of gloves there were the tanneries and leather production, making the complete operation huge.

Blessed Edward Oldcorne College did it again! Their performing Arts Evening was a great success with a variety of music and song.  Year after year they seem to find new and very talented students, which I think says something about the dedication and expertise of the teaching staff. Whilst the talent has to be there in the first place, the coaching delivers the performance.   Well done to both the performers and the production team, it was a great evening.

We were graced recently with a visit by teachers and pupils from La Vesinet, our twin town in France. Their English was superb and it was great to have the opportunity of showing them around our Guildhall and explain a little of the history of Worcester.  As always they loved three things – the chain, the sword and the cells. Whilst in the cells one young lady saw a shadowy figure and screamed! I not sure who was more frightened, her or me.  The figure? Well that was a model of a prisoner half hidden in the dim light of the cell!

We also had a visit from Cherry Orchard School and, as always, it was a delight to talk to them and show them around. We are very lucky to have such a building as the Guildhall.

You will remember Joel Richards, a young man aged 19 with a great future ahead of him. He was a student at our University, a sportsman and someone who was liked by everyone he met.  He was killed along with Uncle Adrian Evans, 49, Grandfather Patrick Evans, 78, and 35 others near Sousse whilst they were on holiday in Tunisia last year. A terrible day, a day that tore into a family; as Joel’s mother said, “It’s been nine months and it feels like nine years of pain. I don’t think we’ll ever get over losing them. To go from six to three just by going on holiday.  It’s just unfair.  That’s what we struggle with.  It doesn’t feel real”.

The Duke of Gloucester, Chancellor of Worcester University, dedicated the Conference and Media Suite at the University’s Worcester Arena to Joel Richard’s memory – an area in which Joel was himself taught. The Duke unveiled a plaque in his honour, describing the murders as “an act of hate.” It was a very emotional day; most present were close to tears and Suzie Richards, Joel’s mum, spoke very movingly.  Whilst this event will preserve Joel’s memory in a place he loved and it was a lovely thing to do, it was still a sad day.

Lord Mervyn King came to Worcester to promote the launch of his new book, titled The End of Alchemy, at a reception held in the Arena. He spoke about world finances, the Euro, countries within the single currency and the recession.  Much to my surprise, I understood everything he said!  Lord King has a way of talking and explaining things that makes even the most difficult concepts comprehensible and I gather his book is written in the same vein.  I have yet to read it, but I have bought a copy.

The Worcester Competitive Arts Festival held a final concert in the RGS Perrins Hall, and what a show that was! The performers were of mixed ages from very young to those of a more leisurely age.  From a six year old right through to the rather more mature choir called Anvil Chorus, all were great, but it was the young pianists that amazed me.  Two of them were so small their feet did not reach the peddles, but their music was superb.  A young man sung so well and with such a mature voice that I thought music would be his future and whilst it may well be, his next step will be off to Cambridge to study maths!

Another remarkable week! Children from New College Worcester came to the Parlour for a chat with the Mayor and a tour of the Guildhall – and what a delightful bunch they were.  Although a brave face was put on, I definitely got the impression that they were a little nervous about being in the cells and a description of conditions back in the early 1700’s just about finished them off!!  In all seriousness, they really enjoyed their visit and they were a pleasure to take around the building.  Just in case they get jealous, I better add that the teachers were very good too!

The “Shrub Hill Workshop” exhibited photographs from students at the Commandery; it was one of those occasions when I was really glad not to be a judge as the photos displayed were all very good – most quite brilliant – and I would not have wanted to choose one as best. My compliments to all the students for a superb exhibition, thank you.

I had the opportunity to visit The Hive and explore the archives with Adrian Gregson, who has the grand title of Archival Policy and Collections Manager and Diocesan Archivist at Worcestershire Archive and Archaeology Service!  Crikey, that title must fill his business cards!  Adrian was very welcoming and showed me around the climate controlled storage facility which in itself was great – but to be able to see the original Charters awarded and sealed by our Monarchs over the centuries was amazing.  Documents and seals going back as far as 1189 AD, as well as ancient maps and other papers including Shakespeare’s marriage licence, are all safely stored there for us and future generations to enjoy.  A great facility Adrian, thank you.

The Young Enterprise Spring Fair was an interesting event. Staged in the High Street, young students were manning stalls and selling their product.  From different schools and colleges, groups were given the opportunity to form a business, complete with a board of directors and marketing scheme to promote their product or service.  A great idea, as working through the process they were able to understand a lot about business structures and how they work.  Their skills were put to the test as they worked to deliver a commercially viable offer and then sell that offer in the High Street and be judged on their originality, commercialism, organisational skills and both business and manufacturing acumen.  Even those that didn’t win a prize enjoyed it.  They all learned a great deal from the exercise, which will no doubt make their next attempt even more successful and give them valuable insight into the world of business.

The Civic Society located another Plaque – this one on a house in College Precincts which was the home of Edward Elgar from 1857 to 1934. It is now a beautifully refurbished house available for holiday lets.  The Civic Society has achieved some remarkable successes in recording important locations and events in the City’s past, for which I thank them.

The Worcester Festival Choral Society Concert held in the Cathedral has to be the event of the week. Beautiful singing and wonderful music.  Peter Nardone, Conductor, excelled and the Cathedral was filled with the incredible sound of the orchestra and singing by the Soloists and Choir combined.  The soloists Katherine Crompton, Soprano, Deborah Miles-Johnson, Mezzo-soprano and Bass soloist Timothy Dickinson were outstanding to say the least.  It was a real pleasure to be there and hear the great sound in a great building, wonderful evening!

We returned to the Cathedral the following day for the Service of Thanksgiving for Ian Hopwood, Chairman of the County Council as he approaches the final period of his term of office. Ian has suffered some health problems in the last few months so it was good to see him enjoying a lovely and well attended service.