Mayor of Worcester

Photo courtesy of Worcester News

NOMINATIONS ARE NOW CLOSED.

The Mayor of Worcester would like to take this opportunity to announce the first ever ‘Best of Worcester’ Community Awards.

In partnership with the Rotary Club of Worcester and supported by Regenerating Communities this will be the first event of its kind to celebrate all that is good about Worcester.

We are seeking nominations from all sections of the community for a number of categories for work that they feel should be recognised and rewarded.

The dinner will be the Mayor’s major fund-raising event of the year.

All short-listed nominations will be invited to a special dinner in the Guildhall on the evening of Friday 20 March 2015, where the winners will be announced and presented with their awards.

All the money raised will be divided between the Rotary Club of Worcester charities and the Mayor’s charities – Forces Support, Cathedral Charitable Trust and the Mayor’s own project to tackle loneliness amongst the elderly.

The nomination must reach us by 5.00pm on Monday 16 February 2015. People shortlisted for an award will be informed by Tuesday 24 February 2015.

NOMINATIONS ARE NOW CLOSED.

For information please contact civicoffice@worcester.gov.uk

My instinct tells me that 2015 is going to be another uncertain and unpredictable year in every way. So, expect the unexpected – it always happens.

For the Mayoralty, I remain totally focused on my priorities, one of which is my charity work.  My Come On In project aims to build a Citywide network of luncheon clubs/meet and greet groups/snack and chat sessions to tackle the dreadfully widespread incidence of loneliness and isolation amongst older people. So far, I have raised nearly £15,000 but my ambitions don’t stop there.

Also, I am proud to be supporting Forces Support, a charity that provides practical help (such as gardening and decorating) just when it is needed most for families who have lost a soldier in action. Having held the latest Prize Draw in The Parlour, it was an amazing experience telephoning the winners informing them they had won £1,000, £500, and £300 in cash!

The other priority is to engage with people by going out to meet them and inviting them into The Parlour. This is my “Be My Guest” programme whereby I host a tour, tea, and chat for schools (and other groups). No longer do I worry about a lack of interest as I have been amazed by the children’s enthusiasm for and curiosity about what they see and do. Please visit The Guildhall where I am displaying their drawings of “My Best Thing” of the visit.  What I love about these events is that the children are so refreshing. They ask what they want and say what they think. A frequent question is about the value of the Mayoral silver and what would I spend the money on if I sold it!  Nice idea at least.

One forthcoming highlight I am very excited about is the Mayor’s Charity Dinner on March 20th as this has been completely re-vamped and will be another first-ever event involving the whole community throughout Worcester. I’m also looking forward to the Civic Service on 8th February, and then visiting the army in north Germany when I’ll take part in a tank exercise. They’ve sort of promised that I can fire a few rounds and even possibly drive the tank.

 

Although, sadly, the main part of Christmas is now over, I hope people will keep their decorations up until twelfth night, the January 6, because they brighten the place up and remind us of the Christian aspect of the holiday.

As I so love the anticipation of Christmas Day, perhaps I could indulge in some happy memories of the week beforehand. Having filled the bags at Lyppard Grange Community Centre for the Worcester Rotary Club’s Christmas Parcels Charity, we took the parcels round the next day to the residents of Rowan Court and listened to their plans for Christmas Day.

The carol services all so very different but all so enjoyable. There was the pre-school nativity play in St. Peter’s Village Hall where one little chap took off in song regardless of the script! The Worcester District Scouts Carol Service in the Cathedral has a reputation for being fun and this year’s was no exception; Bishop Perowne’s had clearly taken months of careful preparation and it paid off brilliantly with the pupils showing a remarkable degree of musical talent both in singing and playing – well done. The huge attendance at the Carol Service in the Atrium at Worcestershire Royal Hospital was rewarded with performances by both the Voices for Health and Sing 4 Breath choirs.

Then there was a delightful morning at St. John’s Library for the Cuppa and Chat group’s Christmas Special, where the churches and library work together to provide such a welcoming meeting place for our elderly citizens, during which I handed out presents to the St. Clements Primary School choir.

Finally, some “thank yous”. It was a pleasure to host a reception in The Parlour for City Council staff, and especially those much appreciated colleagues who came along who keep our streets clean and parks well tended. They are extremely important as the front line for how people judge our city. Also, to our postal workers whom I met during a visit to the Wainwright Road Sorting Office very early one morning to thank them for the excellent work they do in all weathers and during unsocial hours, most of whom had started work at 4.30 am on that day. Special thanks to my local postie, Jamie Colburn.

 

Attending the Christmas Memorial Service by the Friends of Astwood Cemetery was a very appropriate and comforting event, giving us time to reflect on the lives of those who are no longer with us – especially for those for whom this will be the first Christmas when one of their loved ones will be absent.

During this season of pantos and carol services, I enjoyed the RGS and King’s School concerts in the Cathedral – the dimming of the lights at the latter was very effective. I so enjoyed the Flippin’ Freezin’ panto at Tudor Grange that, as a thank you, I invited the student who played The Mayor in the show and some others of the cast to tea in The Parlour, in costume if they preferred!

And, of course, charity events continued apace with the Age UK Coffee Morning in the Cathedral run by University students; and how privileged I was to meet so many people at the Worcester Royal Hospital Volunteers ‘Thank You’ event, with carols sung by the Sing 4 Breath Choir. The volunteers give so much of their time, doing an invaluable job looking after the patients.

But the ordinary life of Council work goes on regardless.  I opened the Annual Landlords Forum in The Guildhall this week – particularly important as private sector rented housing now makes up an incredible 34% of the total stock.

Launching Deaf Direct’s Access Denied event in St. Peter’s Baptist Church reminded us of the rapid growth of hearing loss and the difficulties and even discrimination that many deaf or hard-of-hearing people face in their daily lives.

The following meeting between officials from the U.S. Embassy and local business people and decision-makers was a good opportunity for us to strengthen our tourist and investment links with our overseas friends.

Hosting the Mayor’s Charity Christmas Concert in The Guildhall and listening to a rare mix of carols and readings, brilliantly performed by the Elgar Chorale, provides me with the opportunity and pleasure to thank Malcolm Macleod, the choir and narrators for continuing with this wonderful Christmas tradition.