MAYOR’S WEEK: 7 – 13 JULY 2024

MAYOR’S WEEK: 7 – 13 JULY 2024

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The Mayor of Worcester, Cllr Mel Allcott, wearing her ceremonial robes, standing in the Guildhall Parlour
The Mayor of Worcester, Cllr Mel Allcott, wearing her ceremonial robes, standing in the Guildhall Parlour

Looking back, my first week as Mayor, was incredible!

I joined in with Vyshyvanka Day (International Embroidery Day) at Cripplegate Park. The Ukranians wore beautiful embroidered clothes, a display of strong their culture and colours.

Headdresses created from locally sourced flowers were worn, a feast of traditional food enjoyed, with music and dancing enjoyed outdoors.  I love spending time with our city’s Ukranian community, their warmth shines through.

It was a joy to celebrate Worcester City Football Club’s incredible season! There was a question and answer session with the owner, Simon Lancaster, the coach Chris Cornes and the team captain Adam Mace. The team had been promoted into the next league and awards were presented. It was great to have the opportunity to present the Club Person of the Season award – congratulations to Kevin Preece!

I also spent time at the Maggs Day Centre, where the staff, trustees and volunteers were both trained and knowledgeable and it was a particularly informative event. The homeless are some of the most vulnerable in our society and there are many factors driving homelessness and the trajectory a homeless person may be able to take, including local health, public and community provision.

The Men United in Song concert at the Swan Theatre was an evening to remember. Worcester Male Voice Choir had advertised for men to come forward to sing as a choir and raise funds for prostate cancer and I had been able to support the adverts.

Over £25,000 had been raised before the concert and with less than 10 weeks rehearsal, Men United in Song had a terrific sound! The event encouraged men to talk and act upon health concerns and I am sure will save many lives.

The General Election meant that all mayoral events suspended, but I am fully back to all my mayoral duties. Worcester, let’s have a brilliant year!

SUSPENSION OF MAYORAL BLOG

SUSPENSION OF MAYORAL BLOG

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All duties of the Worcester Mayor have been suspended until after the General Election, in accordance with the Royal Household protocol.

From Saturday 25 May we are formally in the Pre-election Period (previously known as “purdah”), and the Council and all its partners will not be carrying out any publicity activity which involves elected members until the election is concluded. This is so that we can ensure we comply with the requirements of the national Publicity Code for local authorities.

This includes the weekly Mayoral Blog.

More information is available at www.local.gov.uk/our-support/guidance-and-resources/pre-election-period.

We look forward to continuing the Mayoral Blog following the General Election on 4 July.

MAYOR’S WEEK: 11 – 18 May 2024

MAYOR’S WEEK: 11 – 18 May 2024

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Thank you and goodbye.

Sadly, my time as Mayor has now come to an end. The chain of office has been handed over, a thank you and goodbye speech made at the Guildhall.

As they say, all good things come to an end. Katey and I have enjoyed the experience. It has been a real honour and a privilege, something that I’ll treasure forever. Thank you.

Last year I attended hundreds of events and helped to raise over £7,000 for Age UK. Last May I supported Worcester Community Trust to put on a Christmas meal at the Guildhall.

I’ve conducted scores of Mayor’s tours of the Guildhall to all manner of charities, schools and foreign visitors – sometimes several in one week. Each tour being perfected and honed, hopefully getting a little better as I gained experience.

At the beginning of the year, I made a pledge to attend every Mayoral event on my bike. I’ve always believed that leaders should lead.

Unfortunately, perhaps I should have consulted Katey before making that pledge.

There were a few ‘words said’ when, on more than one occasion, I insisted on us arriving at a posh charity event in evening dress and dinner jacket on our bikes.

One of the things that I’m most proud of was the Mayor’s Charity Fashion Show. When I say proud it’s actually more accurate to say proud of the team that made it happen and by that, I mean key Guildhall staff like Gill Preece but also Karel Bretveld from Age UK.

The team raised thousands of pounds and gave dozens of Worcester’s young people an amazing opportunity to show off their creative skills. And it was also a lot of fun.

Finally, I wish Mel Allcott all the best for her time as the city’s new Mayor. I hope she enjoys the experience as much as I did.

MAYOR’S WEEK: 5 – 11 MAY 2024

MAYOR’S WEEK: 5 – 11 MAY 2024

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Mayor of Worcester Louis Stephen on the bike bus

This week I joined the Honeywell Bike Bus in Dines Green. It was great to be able to show a bit of Mayoral support for this fantastic initiative.

Not yet familiar with bike buses? A bike bus is a brilliant way to support and encourage primary school children to cycle to school, reducing traffic and giving families the experience of cycling together.

Bike buses can also improve on-road cycling proficiency, with the safety of being directed by adults and surrounded by other children cycling.

Bike bus routes are planned for school runs, marshals and others ride in formation to make sure children on the ride are kept safe from vehicles.

Worcester’s first bike bus was started by Katie and Rob Collier at North Worcester Primary Academy, and Bike Worcester have been doing a great job supporting other parents to set up their own bike bus.

In January 2023 Worcester City Council granted Bike Worcester £1,000 to be used to help start bike buses at other primary schools in the city.

They’ve got flags, vests and banners to publicise bike buses along the journey and outside of schools. They also help share routes and bike bus information to schools and parents, ensuring new bike buses keep momentum and increase interest over time.

Bike buses show the power of, and the demand for, cycling on the school run. Bike Worcester are campaigning for safe routes to school without the need for a bike bus to keep small children safe. Until then, we need to continue to support and expand bike buses in every primary school in the city.

If you want to know more about an existing Bike Bus, or you’d like to volunteer or set up your own, visit the Bike Worcester website. Bike buses are explained in this Youtube video.