Worcestershire Symphony Orchestra is simply superb! Their concert in aid of the mayor’s charities included Schubert and Mozart, with Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony as a finale.  Congratulations on a wonderful performance and thank you to the all of those involved for raising over £900 for the mayor’s charities. This is an orchestra with a big tradition – Sir Edward Elgar himself was involved in founding WSO. They are playing Brahms Symphony no.4 on 8 February in St. George’s Church, Barbourne – I am putting the date in my diary.

 Congratulations to all of the WorcesterUniversity graduates who graduated this week. Phil and I joined university staff and students on Wednesday for a graduation ceremony. Students in academic gowns dashed around town for several days. It was a marvellous sight and a very important rite of passage.

 Late Friday afternoon, I could be found lurking outside the Guildhall awaiting the arrival of the Men in Heels walk. They hobbled up the High Street a few minutes later than predicted, braving blisters, bunions, aching feet and ridicule to publicise the 16 days of Action against Domestic Abuse. There was a lot of laughter and I am led to believe there is now a local shortage of ladies’ size nine shoes in the city.

 Dr Ruth Jones of WorcesterUniversity also hosted a morning of talks on domestic abuse by experts from around the region. One woman a week still dies as a result of domestic abuse. It is a stubborn statistic, which has not shifted much over several years. Clearly, there is more to be done to promote healthy personal relationships.