Mayor of Worcester Blog

It was a real privilege to be invited to make a speech at a very special event this week to mark Ukraine Independence Day. The event was held in Cripplegate Park and around 100 people attended.

We joined in a circle holding hands, joining in the worldwide chain of unity and sang along to the Ukraine national anthem as others did across the world, both as a sign of unity and to express their gratitude at those countries which have supported Ukrainian refugees.

I was given a beautiful handmade wreath to wear on my head and some other ladies wore them too.

After the circle we gathered in the pavilion which has been recently painted and decorated by the Friends of Cripplegate group.  We enjoyed traditional Ukrainian food and soft drinks – a lot of food, including some rather nice potato and some mushroom savouries – my description does not do it justice!  Ukrainian music was then played and there were Ukrainian national dances.

People gathered outside and dancing was continuing as I left.  The tables inside and outside were beautifully decorated. I met one of the family hosts too. The kindness I was shown was second to none and  I am very touched to have met such warm and amazing people.

I have had a busy first few months as deputy mayor  and I am thoroughly enjoying it. I have attended art exhibitions, musical performances, summer fetes and, of course the wonderful Worcester Show. I was also pleased to lead the parade for the Worcestershire Pride event – it was lovely to see so many young and positive people, plus a bright array of clothes and some talented make-up.

 

 

I recently had the pleasure of attending the ABI Game, hosted by Headway at Worcester University Sports Arena. This was their second such event and I was astounded by the number of adults with acquired brain injuries (ABI) that took part from all over the UK. It was a well-run event and I even got to judge the woodwork entries!

I also visited Headway’s office in Gregory’s Mill Street, to meet the staff and clients. I now have an understanding of the funding challenges that the charity faces on a daily basis and how they still manage to offer a diverse range of support services for adults with acquired brain injuries. I met the art group and was invited to come back to join in a session on another day after I admitted I have never actually held a paintbrush in my hand. Challenge accepted!

I managed to sit in on a mindfulness session where I learned how to relax using breathing techniques. Again, another first. I felt very touched that the group shared their personal stories with me in what was clearly a safe space for them to be themselves.

We live in a busy world with a lot of stress. Living with stress for a long period of time can cause a stroke. I take away an understanding of the necessity of looking after myself and bringing better balance into my own life. If we don’t value and don’t look after ourselves how can we help others?

For more information on Headway and their outreach services do refer to their website.

Recently I was invited to a Repair Café organized by Transition Worcester and whilst there I was asked if I would also like to take part in a food rescue. I had a vague idea what this was – maybe something to do with rummaging through supermarket bins for food that has gone past its sell by date?

The reality was quite a bit different. Worcester Food Rescue are super organized and do around 16 collections each week from places like Tesco, Asda, Waitrose, Sainsbury’s and Booker. So far this year they have rescued 12 tonnes of food equating to nearly 30,000 meals for people in need.

I took part in a food recue at Waitrose at 9pm when the shop was closed to customers. By invitation of the management we backed our car into the rear entrance normally used by the delivery lorries and awaited to see what posh, but very welcome food, would be making it’s way to feed, amongst others, people at Acorns, Ukrainian families and St Paul’s Hostel. Suffice to say no bin surfing was needed as we transferred the lovely food directly from trolleys to the back of our car.

Transition Worcester also run the Teaching and Display Garden, a community garden located at the Old North Stables on Pitchcroft encouraging people to grow their own food. They also run an energy group that supports local residents to reduce their home energy costs. A subject dear to my heart and as we come to the colder days of autumn will no doubt be the subject of a future Mayoral blog.

Worcester is an amazing place but the volunteers and people who give their time so freely for others are the real treasures. Thank you, Transition Worcester, for all that you do. Find out more about Transition Worcester.

 

Last week I took a holiday. The Mayoress and I had some quiet time with a couple of days out. We visited the ‘I Grew Up in the 80s’ exhibition at the Museum & Art Gallery.

In 1980 I was fourteen years old. It may not now be seen as fashionable but it’s my decade – it’s the decade where I finished school, went to University, married my school girlfriend Katey at the tender age of 21 and got my first job. So yes – the 80s were my formative years.

The 80s exhibition is not perhaps one to go to alone. The fun is all about the reminiscing. “Remember that album cover? Was that the album where the track kept jumping?” The memories kept flooding back, from the chocolate bars that you can’t now buy, to the small screen box telly looping round the sights and sounds of classic TV shows of the time like Danger Mouse and Knight Rider.

There were also the musical greats, from the theatrical Adam Ant’s – ‘Stand And Deliver’, to the apex of synthpop New Order – ‘Blue Monday’ to bangers like ‘The Message’ by Grandmaster Flash and The Furious Five – we had it all.

The films were amazing too. Who can forget the influences of the great movies like Raiders of the Lost Ark, Ghostbusters, Aliens, Back To The Future or The Terminator?

The 1980s was a time of innocence and freedom when kids were not tethered to parents with mobile phones and we played outside and fell out of trees.

Thank you Worcester City Council Museums & Art Gallery – for bringing back my childhood memories. Exhibition finishes September 9.