MAYOR’S WEEK 7 – 13 SEPETEMBER

MAYOR’S WEEK 7 – 13 SEPETEMBER

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I have always been committed to supporting the work of our armed forces- both veterans and serving members.

Therefore, it was a privilege to join the Worcester Armed Forces and Veterans Breakfast Club as they celebrated their 10th birthday last Saturday where I was joined by the city’s Armed Forces Champion, Councillor Pat Agar.

The Breakfast Club meets at the Crown Pub on the first Saturday of the month. From just 10 people meeting together, the club has grown into a remarkable community of 100 veterans.

That growth tells its own story – one of comradeship, mutual support, and the unbreakable bond that exists between those who have served.

This is more than just a breakfast. It is a place of belonging, where laughter, friendship, and sometimes difficult memories are shared among those who truly understand.

Worcester is richer for this club and the contribution its members make to our city. As Mayor, I have met many veterans at commemorations and civic events, and it is always humbling.

We owe a huge debt of gratitude to those who serve and have served. As a city and as a nation we must continue working to ensure that service is recognised, celebrated, and supported.

There was further celebration of those who make such a difference to our city and our county when I and the Mayoress attended the Worcestershire Health and Social Care Awards at the Bank House at Bransford.

The Mayor and Mayoress of Worcester
The Mayor and Mayoress of Worcester

I was honoured to be one of the judges, which was no easy task given the outstanding calibre of nominees working tirelessly across health and social care.

It was a glistening evening, with fabulously dressed nominees, guests and sponsors gathered to recognise dedication, compassion and commitment.

I was especially pleased to present the Mental Health Award to Stepway, a Worcester-based charity doing outstanding work supporting veterans. Their success was richly deserved and a reminder of the difference our city’s organisations make in people’s lives.

The awards also highlighted Worcester nominees such as the Mortuary Team from Worcestershire Acute Hospitals, named NHS Team of the Year, and Sensory Matters Worcestershire, who received the Health Care Employer Award.

Worcester can take great pride in these local heroes, whose compassion and commitment reflect the very best of our community.

It was a privilege to celebrate them all and witness such a powerful reminder of the care and kindness that underpin our city.

MAYOR’S WEEK: 31 AUGUST – 6 SEPTEMBER

MAYOR’S WEEK: 31 AUGUST – 6 SEPTEMBER

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I continue to be blown away by the support shown to all members of our community here in Worcester.

On Monday evening I had the great pleasure of visiting the Monday Night Club at Henry Sandon Hall at the Royal Porcelain Works.

The club provides a fantastic opportunity for people with learning disabilities and autism to meet their friends, dance, and enjoy each other’s company in a safe and welcoming space.

Proudly run by its members, for its members, the Monday Night Club shows how much can be achieved when people come together.

This week was “Strictly Night,” with music, glitter, and plenty of enthusiasm on the dance floor!

I was delighted to present a cheque for £733 raised by Trustee Sam Wilkes through her recent birthday fundraiser, joined by Laura Gill, the club’s inspirational founder.

Matt Lamb presenting a cheque at the Monday Night Club

It is important to remember that as Mayor I continue to play an important role in the governance of our city.

On Tuesday I had the privilege of chairing a meeting of full council in the Guildhall.

We discussed a range of important issues for the city, including transport in Worcester, the value of maintaining our allotments, and the future shape of the council as part of wider Local Government Reorganisation.

These are weighty matters that affect the lives of many residents and the character of our city.

I have always been passionate that, whatever form reorganisation eventually takes, the role of the Mayor and the majesty of the Guildhall must be preserved.

They are symbols of Worcester’s civic identity and heritage, and it is vital they continue to play a central role in our city’s story.

That history and heritage was underlined on Wednesday when I was honoured to take part in the annual Drumhead Ceremony to mark the anniversary of the Battle of Worcester, fought on 3rd September 1651.

I paraded with Civil War re-enactors from the Guildhall to Fort Royal Hill, where the ceremony took place.

The event was a moving reminder of the battle’s place in our city’s history and the many lives lost.

A minute of silence was held and its beginning and end was marked with musket fire that echoed across the hill.

After the service, I joined the re-enactors at the excellent Cardinal’s Hat Pub, where stories of the battle were shared with real passion and knowledge.

It was an inspiring way to remember Worcester’s past and those who preserve it.

MAYOR’S WEEK: 24 – 30 AUGUST 2025

MAYOR’S WEEK: 24 – 30 AUGUST 2025

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Last weekend Worcester once again took its rightful place at the heart of our nation’s story as the city marked its central role in the English Civil Wars with two very special events.

On Saturday, I had the honour of joining the Commemorative Parade and Drumhead Service, organised by the Battle of Worcester Society, the Worcester Re-enactors and the Sealed Knot. I led a parade of re-enactors in authentic 17th century costumes from the Guildhall to the Cathedral, where we took part in a moving drumhead service. From there we marched to Copenhagen Street to review the civil war banners hanging there.

The Mayor and Mayoress parading through a Worcester street with men in Civil War costumes

Standing among them, I reflected on Worcester’s central role in the English Civil Wars. Our city was not on the margins of that conflict – it was at its very heart. From the first clash at Powick Bridge in 1642 to the final great battle here in September 1651, Worcester was the stage upon which the struggle for the future of the nation was played out.

Few cities can claim such a central place in the history of our country, and we should be rightly proud of that heritage. The banners now hanging proudly on Copenhagen Street are more than works of art – they are recreations of the colours under which regiments marched, fought, and died. By bringing them back to life, students from Worcester Sixth Form College, Royal Grammar School Worcester and Heart of Worcestershire College have given us a living memorial that connects today’s generations with those who lived through those turbulent years.

The commemorations continued on Sunday and Monday with Worcester Under Siege at Bennetts Willow Barn. Families were transported back to the 17th century with living history camps, artillery, cavalry, and a full battle re-enactment staged on the very soil where history was once made. The mayoress and I were given a fascinating guided tour of the event and, at the culmination of the battle on Monday, I was proud to receive a wonderful flag bearing the city’s coat of arms on behalf of Worcester.

Both events reminded us that Worcester is truly the Faithful City – faithful in war, and faithful in peace – and that our heritage lives not just in books and museums but in our streets, our schools, and our communities.

The Mayor holding a flag

MAYOR’S WEEK: 17 – 23 AUGUST 2025

MAYOR’S WEEK: 17 – 23 AUGUST 2025

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Last week, Worcester came together to mark the 80th anniversary of Victory over Japan Day – the day the Second World War finally came to an end. It was an honour and privilege to attend three very moving commemorations that reminded us of the courage, sacrifice, and endurance of those who fought in the Far East.

In the morning, I spoke at the Guildhall at the official VJ 80th anniversary commemoration. In my speech, I reflected on how, when we think of the Second World War, while many of us think first of Normandy, the Blitz or the liberation of Europe, the war in the Far East was equally brutal and even more prolonged. Men from across the Commonwealth fought in jungles, mountains and monsoons against a determined enemy. Among them were the men of the Worcestershire Regiment – the 2nd and 7th Battalions who endured terrible conditions in Burma, and whose service and sacrifice Worcester remembers with pride.

At lunchtime, I joined the Act of Remembrance at the Worcestershire Regimental Stone in Gheluvelt Park where we joined in the national two-minute silence. Standing before that memorial, with veterans, families, and representatives of our armed forces, we remembered those from Worcester who never returned. Their legacy lives on – not just in history books, but in the values of duty, resilience, and sacrifice that continue to shape our city.

The Mayor standing with military veterans at the memorial stone in Worcester's Gheluvelt Park

The next day, I attended the VJ Day service at Claines Parish Church, organised so thoughtfully by the Royal British Legion. It was a moving occasion of prayer, reflection, and thanksgiving.

At these commemorations, I was joined by representatives of the Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters Regimental Association, the Lord Lieutenant of Worcestershire, the High Sheriff, representatives of the armed forces, and many local dignitaries. Their presence was a reminder of the deep respect our county continues to hold for all who served.

For many, the Far East campaign was known as the ‘forgotten war’. But here in Worcester, we will not forget. As I said in my speech, let us honour them not just in remembrance, but in our actions – by standing up for peace, by working together as a community, and by passing on their stories to future generations. We will remember them.