MAYOR’S WEEK: 24 – 30 MAY 2026

MAYOR’S WEEK: 24 – 30 MAY 2026

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The Mayor cutting the ribbon at the re-opening of the Fairfield Learning Centre
The Mayor cutting the ribbon at the re-opening of the Fairfield Learning Centre

Firstly I would like to say thank you to the wonderful staff at Fairfield Learning Centre for giving me a tour of their refurbished and expanded learning facilities last week. It was really lovely to meet some of the students, see the art, hair and make-up that they were working on and try some of the food they had been cooking. The cheese scone was fantastic. I was also very happy to cut my first ribbon of my Mayoral year. One down, hopefully many more to go.

At the start of this week I welcomed descendants of John Sanders to the Guildhall. They had travelled from Canada for a few days to trace back their family history. It is believed that John Sanders painted a portrait of William Shakespeare in 1603. The painting has stayed with the family for over 400 years, travelling with them across the Atlantic. Whether or not it is an authentic portrait of Shakespeare has not been confirmed but, if it is, it would be the only portrait of him painted in his lifetime, 13 years before his death.

Both mother and daughter who came to visit were really surprised by how large and historic the Guildhall was. The daughter described it as “like a palace”. They were also pleased to hear that it was open to the public six days a week. I think this is what makes the Guildhall so special. It is a beautiful asset to our community and visitors to our beautiful city.

My theme for the year is “community”, because I believe there has never been a more important time to celebrate the power of people coming together.  This world can often feel polarised and divided but it is important to recognise what unites us rather than what separates us. Worcester is a wonderful mixing pot of historic traditions mixed with new ideas, culture and creativity. It is wonderful when I get the opportunity to make people feel welcome here, whether visiting for the day or setting down roots.

This weekend I am looking forward to the Elgar Festival! Their motto for the festival, “Elgar for Everyone”, really sums up the work they do to make the great composer accessible. I am excited to hear a talk from independent recording producer Andrew Keener about his work in the studio with Elgar conductors. I am sure it is a very different set up to my time spent in the studio recording sixth-formers’ music technology projects.

MAYOR’S WEEK: 17 – 23 MAY 2026

MAYOR’S WEEK: 17 – 23 MAY 2026

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Hello!

You might have already seen my face absolutely everywhere, on every social media platform, or that might just be my experience every time I unlock my phone.

My name is Tor and I am the new Mayor of Worcester.

I am also a musician and teacher, or I was a teacher until this week as I have just finished teaching at Worcester Sixth Form College. I will miss teaching at the college, especially the students, but I won’t miss having to chase them for homework.

This week has shown me that Worcester is a city of kindness. Since being elected as Mayor, I have received so many positive messages from residents, community groups and local organisations. I would like to say thank you to everyone who has taken the time to get in touch with me.

This year, my chosen charity is Onside Advocacy. All their work stems from a belief that everyone has the right to be a valued and to be treated in a just and fair way. They support people who are vulnerable, disadvantaged or discriminated against, ensuring these people have the support they need, whether this is representation in important meetings or help to improve their mental health.

They are the kind of charity that if you call them up with a problem, they will figure out the rest of the steps to help you solve it. I have already heard so many fantastic examples of the work they do from people who have reached out to me and I am looking forward to raising funds for them this year.

This week I had the pleasure of giving my very first Guildhall tour to students from the Gregorio Marañón School in Toledo, Spain. It was wonderful to welcome young people to the Guildhall and to share a little of our city’s history and civic life with them.

They were a wonderful crowd of about 25 students aged 11 and 12. I was very impressed by how polite but enthusiastic they were throughout the whole tour. Their teachers were encouraging them to use the English phrases that they had learnt throughout their visit and they did so with varying levels of confidence.

Students from the Gregorio Marañón School in Toledo with Mayor Tor Pingree
Students from the Gregorio Marañón School in Toledo with Mayor Tor Pingree

It has been quite a few years since I taught students their age, but it is good to know that children from any country have the same interests at the Guildhall: they wanted to look at the cells, try on the hats and hold the sword. I am sure many adults who visit feel the same.

At the end of their visit, they presented me with gifts from the Mayor of Toledo, including several history books and a poster of their Town Hall.

A building a similar size and for a similar purpose over 800 miles away. I thanked the children and teachers, but I will have to write to the Mayor of Toledo to thank them similarly.

I also attended the opening of the newly extended Fairfield Learning Centre. This is a wonderful hub that supports adult learning in Warndon. A vital resource for the city and I am glad to see it grow.

MAYOR’S WEEK: 3 – 9 MAY 2026

MAYOR’S WEEK: 3 – 9 MAY 2026

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The Mayor holding a tea cup in the grounds of Buckingham Palace
The Mayor at the Buckingham Palace garden party

I have ended my year as Mayor with a wonderful visit to the Royal Garden Party at Buckingham Palace with the Mayoress. It was a real honour to represent Worcester on such a special occasion and to see the King and Queen and other members of the Royal Family, enjoy a cup of tea and a sandwich on the palace lawn, and to meet others from across the UK who have also given their time in service to their communities in so many different ways. It felt a fitting and memorable way to bring my mayoral year to a close.

As I reflect on the past 12 months, I can honestly say what an honour it has been to serve as Mayor of Worcester. It is a role that carries great history and responsibility, but above all it is about people – and I have been privileged to meet so many who make our city the wonderful place it is.

Over the course of the year, I have attended almost 350 different mayoral events. Each one, whether large or small, has offered a glimpse into the extraordinary work taking place across Worcester. I have visited groups including Sensory Matters, the University of the Third Age, ASPIE, Rotary Club, The Monday Night Club, DinesFest, the Scouts, Maggs Day Centre, St Paul’s Hostel, Street Pastors, Shopmobility, Amnesty International, Lions Clubs International, Nightstop and many, many others. From community volunteers to those supporting the most vulnerable, I have continually been inspired by the kindness and commitment of our residents.

My chosen theme for the year was learning, and it has been a pleasure to visit schools, colleges and the University of Worcester, as well as to welcome many young people to the Worcester Guildhall. Seeing the ambition and potential of our young people has been one of the highlights of my year. Alongside this, I was proud to support Acorns Children’s Hospice, helping to raise vital funds for the incredible work they do for children and families.

It was also a particular privilege to visit our twin city of Worcester, Massachusetts. Strengthening that historic connection was both fascinating and rewarding, and I was struck by the warmth of the welcome we received and the shared civic pride that links our two cities across the Atlantic.

One of the most meaningful aspects of my year has been the opportunity to work with and recognise the service of our armed forces and our veterans. I was honoured to attend commemorations for VJ Day and Remembrance Sunday, to speak at the raising of the armed forces flag, to pay tribute in Gheluvelt Park, and to mark Qatia Day. These solemn occasions, alongside meeting serving personnel and supporting veterans’ organisations such as the Royal British Legion, have been both humbling and deeply important.

Finally, it has been a joy to celebrate the diversity of our city – spending time with our Polish, Ukrainian, Afro-Carribbean, South Asian, Chinese and Jewish communities, each of whom contribute so much to the rich fabric of Worcester life.

As my time as Mayor comes to an end, I look back with a deep sense of gratitude. Gratitude to the Mayoress for her constant support, and to everyone who has welcomed us so warmly. It has truly been a privilege to serve. Worcester is a remarkable city, and I leave this role immensely proud of all that we have celebrated together over the past year.

MAYOR’S WEEK: 26 APRIL – 2 MAY 2026

MAYOR’S WEEK: 26 APRIL – 2 MAY 2026

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This week has been another busy and rewarding one in the role of Mayor, with a range of engagements that truly reflect the strength of community spirit across our city.

I was delighted to open and attend the annual Worcestershire Rail Partnership event at the Guildhall. This important gathering brought together partners, volunteers and stakeholders who work tirelessly to support and enhance our local rail services. In my remarks, I reflected on the vital role that our railways play – not just in connecting people and places, but in supporting economic growth, tourism and sustainability across the county. Community rail partnerships in particular do so much to foster local pride, improve station environments and encourage more people to travel by train. It was inspiring to hear about the ongoing projects and ambitions for the future, and I am very grateful to everyone involved for the time, energy and enthusiasm they continue to give.

On Sunday, I had the great pleasure of attending the annual St George’s Day Scouts service and parade at Worcester Cathedral. It was a truly uplifting occasion, with hundreds of Scouts, leaders and families taking part. The parade through the city centre created a wonderful sense of occasion, before the service itself provided an opportunity to reflect on the values at the heart of Scouting.

The commitment shown by these young people – to helping others, developing new skills and contributing positively to their communities – is something we should all take pride in. It was also a chance to recognise the dedication of adult volunteers, whose support and guidance make these opportunities possible. Events such as this are a powerful reminder of the important role that organisations like the Scouts play in building confidence, character and community cohesion.

I also had the opportunity to attend rehearsals for the musical Come From Away, which will be showing at The Swan Theatre from 19 to 23 May. Having had the pleasure of seeing the production take shape, I can honestly say it promises to be something very special. An infectious, uplifting and deeply moving show, it tells the story of a small Canadian town in the aftermath of 9/11 and serves as a powerful reminder of kindness, compassion and humanity at its very best.

The energy and professionalism of the cast and crew were evident throughout the rehearsal, and it was particularly lovely to see former colleagues and students from my time at Worcester College of Technology continuing to shine on stage. Their passion for performance is clear, and it is wonderful to see that talent being showcased here in Worcester. I would strongly encourage everyone to come along and support what is sure to be a brilliant production. Having seen a wonderful production of Evita at The Swan just the previous week, it is clear that Come From Away continues to reflect the vibrant and thriving theatre scene we are fortunate to enjoy here in Worcester.

The Mayor and Mayoress with a group of people, some in colourful outfits.
The Mayor and Mayoress with the cast of Come From Away