Mayor of Worcester

I have had so much fun this week! Worcester is, as usual, having a superb summer.

I’ll start with an event outside of Worcester, The Battle of Evesham. This event marks a significant battle in the Second Barons War (1264-1267), which saw the defeat of Simon De Montfort. This was after a long war where De Montfort had raised one of the earliest forms of Parliament against King Henry III. Before this battle, De Montfort had managed to capture Henry, and his son (who then escaped). He also made the monarch recognise Llywelyn ap Gruffudd as the Prince of Wales.

Unfortunately for De Montfort, his success was thwarted by the bend in the River Avon that he got trapped in. This final battle was re-enacted by over a thousand people last Saturday.

It was fantastic to be part of the day, walking in the parade through Evesham, laying a wreath for the men who lost their lives so long ago and learning about the battle. Thank you to everyone who made the day happen!

This week I have had the pleasure to meet with Laura Goodridge (pictured with me below), CEO of Home Instead Herefordshire and Gloucestershire. We had a fascinating conversation about women in leadership and what more we can do to encourage young women to step into leadership roles with confidence. It sounds like she is already doing amazing work to support and develop future leaders.

On Tuesday I attended WODYS’s production of The Wizard of Oz at The Swan Theatre. Having visited rehearsals recently, I knew the show would be great, but the finished production exceeded my expectations. I was so impressed by how talented every young performer was in singing, dancing and acting. I can’t wait to check out next year’s show.

Young people were also at the heart of National Play Day, where Play Worcester hosted a fantastic street pop-up at the University of Worcester. It was wonderful to see children and families enjoying simple opportunities to play together. I really enjoyed learning to juggle and showing off my hula hooping skills. Thanks to Play Worcester and the University of Worcester for all their work putting together the event.

I also visited Severn Trent’s Built for Worcestershire community event. It was great to meet with the team, councillors and the Staff at The Hive all working together to support our communities. I had the difficult task of judging the children’s art competition. Choosing two winners was far from easy, as the standard was incredibly high. Events like this demonstrate that infrastructure projects are about far more than pipes and roads; they are about investing in communities, and building a stronger future for Worcestershire.

This week has reminded me just how important arts, culture and performance are in bringing different sections of the community together. On the stage, in kitchens, in care homes and on a bandstand I have seen people of all ages sharing their skills.

I started the week at Northanger Abbey in the gardens of The Commandery. I look forward to these performances every year and I think this may have been my favourite yet. The weather was dry, the gardens were packed and the production was brilliant. It was also slightly surreal seeing someone I know playing the lead role. I am much more used to seeing him as the lead singer of a punk band than as the lead in a Jane Austen. He was equally convincing in both, as were all the other performers.

The performing arts continued later in the week when I visited a rehearsal of The Wizard of Oz with WODYS. It was lovely to see so many young people throwing themselves into every scene. If they are this good at acting now, imagine how phenomenal they will be later in life. I am very excited to see the finished production at The Swan Theatre from 4 to 8 August.

Young people were also showcasing their talents in a very different way at the Mela Chef Competition. Sixteen students from Heart of Worcestershire College competed in a cooking competition focused on South Asian cuisine. By Saturday, only three finalists remained. Congratulations to Herbie, who took home the trophy, apron and voucher!

It was wonderful to see the much-loved bandstand brought back to life after so many years in Gheluvelt Park. Built over a century ago, it was always intended to bring people together through music and performance, so it felt fitting that Worcester Concert Brass were the first to play there on Sunday. I know they have many other performances planned throughout the summer and I hope it becomes a stage for countless local performers for many years to come.

One of the most inspiring visits of my week was to Worcester Snoezelen. Their sensory rooms have been thoughtfully designed for many different needs, so that even those with very limited movement can control aspects of their environment through accessible switches and technology. Something as simple as turning on a light can give someone a sense of independence that many of us take for granted.

Thank you to everyone this week who has invited me to be involved in or learn more about the fantastic work they do here in Worcester and beyond!