Mayor of Worcester

One of the highlights of my week was visiting Debutots at Juniper House (Sanctuary Care) where I joined one of their “Joining Generations with Imagination” sessions.

Since 2018, Debutots has been bringing pre-school children and care home residents together through music, stories, drama and play.

What began in a handful of care homes now reaches 26 across Worcestershire, creating opportunities for friendship and laughter between young and old.

It was wonderful to see the smiles on everyone’s faces and the genuine connections being formed.

Thank you to the wonderful Kirstin Reeves, who started the project and continues to run it across so many different venue. She must have endless energy.

Later in the week, I attended the commemoration marking the installation of a headstone for John Cecil Maggs.

They told the story of John who lived in Worcester from 1940 to 1984 and worked in the building trade.

After a difficult early life, including the loss of his mother at a young age, John struggled with his mental health and alcohol use.

In 1974 the house he was lodging in was sold making him homeless. Despite the hardship he endured, those who knew him remembered him as a kind and decent man who always took the time to speak to others living on the streets.

He died in 1984 and was buried in an unmarked grave in Astwood Cemetery.

His death highlighted the urgent need for support for people experiencing homelessness and 18 months later Maggs was formed.

In recent years Maggs has seen more people than ever pass through their doors so they are really searching for any support available.

Learning about John’s life made it all the more meaningful to see his previously unmarked grave now marked with a beautiful headstone.

It felt a fitting tribute, recognising not only one man’s story but the lasting legacy it has had in helping others.

I also had the great privilege of attending the opening ceremony of the Three Choirs Festival in Gloucester Cathedral.

Dating back more than 300 years, it is the oldest music festival in the UK and remains one of the country’s most celebrated choral festivals.

As a musician, it was a real honour to attend in my mayoral robes alongside the Mayor of Hereford the Mayor of Gloucester and all of our Macebearers. I feel very lucky to have been able to witness such an important tradition.

The grandeur of Gloucester Cathedral, combined with the extraordinary standard of music, made for a truly memorable occasion.

It was also a wonderful reminder of the strong cultural links between our three cathedral cities and the rich musical heritage we continue to share.

The world at the moment is fast-paced and full of constant streams of information. It can be difficult to find time to appreciate our natural world.

The opening of the new Wildlife Garden at Worcester Community Gardens was a wonderful opportunity to do just that, offering a peaceful space for everyone.

Alongside the Community Gardens volunteers, young people from Mencap and Heart of Worcester came together to create the garden. We are fortunate to have such dedicated organisations that care so deeply about nature and our local environment.

In 2020, Worcester received a grant from central government to improve the city centre, while Worcester Cathedral began its own ambitious project to transform College Yard.

Previously, the front entrance of the Cathedral was through the car park, with cars parked almost all the way up to the door.

Last week we celebrated the completion of that refurbishment. It was no easy task, as the site was once the city’s only burial ground, requiring painstaking archaeological work and preservation.

It was a privilege to mark the occasion with Evensong and learn more about the project from those who made it possible.

I always hated running track at school. It was difficult and exhausting. I am sure some of Riverside School’s pupils felt the same during their Race for MND, but they were running for an incredibly important cause.

Motor Neuron Disease attacks the nerves that control movement so muscles no longer work. It can move quickly and eventually impacts a person’s ability to walk, speak, swallow, and breathe.

There is currently no cure. Those children running knew how important it was to raise money for support and research into this cause. I was very honoured that to cheer them on.

I had the chance to cheer on more young people at King’s Day. Congratulations to all the sixth formers on completing their A Levels. I found myself wondering what exciting opportunities lie ahead for them.

From sixth formers to the very earliest years, I also visited Dingley’s Promise, where I met the team supporting children with special educational needs and disabilities. They are a hugely compassionate team who work hard to support every child. This can be an incredibly challenging role, so I am in awe of those who do it every day.

We also celebrated Worcester’s diversity. Worcester Mela Festival was a vibrant celebration of South Asian music, dance, food and traditions, while a visit from Pershore’s German twin town, Bad Neustadt an der Saale, provided the chance to share a tour of the Guildhall and discuss the similarities and differences in our local government.

I feel very lucky to have been able to share this week with so many wonderful people in Worcester and be able to open our doors to people from outside of our city.

One organisation that really stood out this week was Worcestershire Breast Unit Haven.

Thank you to the team for inviting me to tour their facility. They shared the story of a patient who, before the Haven existed, received a breast cancer diagnosis and then had to make their way alone through the busy hospital.

It really brought home how important this space is. The calm environment, private exits and thoughtful design show how much care has gone into supporting patients at such a difficult time. The team are truly inspiring.

Every year, I go to see the art exhibition at Worcester Sixth Form College. It’s great to see the art created from so many hours of student work. It was fantastic to attend this year as Mayor.

Sunday brought two very different but equally meaningful community events. I joined residents at the Britannia Square Residents’ Association Summer Party, before attending a fundraiser for Beani Bazar Cancer Hospital in Bangladesh. It was great to see the community pulling together at both events.

For many of my events this week I have been joined by Ada, a work experience student from Hanley Castle.

She has been a complete natural at all the events and meetings we attended and is an absolute credit to her school.

I asked her if she’d like to give a quote for the blog and she said: “My work experience with the mayor this week has been an enjoyable and incredibly valuable experience.

“Tor has put so much time and effort into giving me the best experience possible, and seeing how dedicated she is to her job has been inspiring.

“It has been interesting to see the all the hard work that goes on behind the scenes, and I would recommend this work experience to anyone interested in a future in politics.”

On Tuesday, I watched a performance of Annie by the talented pupils of RGS The Grange. I sat next to Head Master Gareth Hughes, whose pride in his students and staff was clear throughout the evening.

For 10 years the outstanding achievements of Katherine Matthews have been appreciated by the people she manages, the residents and their families at Perry Manor Care Home.

Over those 10 years the care home has won 10 awards. A brilliant achievement, and it was a pleasure to celebrate with them on Wednesday. Thank you to all the staff for their brilliant work.

Wednesday also marked the beginning of South Asian Heritage Month with a wonderful exhibition of music, dance and history at the Guildhall.

This event marked the start of a month of cultural events from Worcester Mela.

It is so important that we recognise the contributions of our South Asian community and come together, as a whole city, to see how much unites us and how much we can learn from each other.