Mayor of Worcester

Opening the Victorian Christmas Fayre was pure enjoyment, and although my mounting of the horse on the carousel after the formal opening was, I suspect, less than elegant, that only added to the moment of fun. My walkabout visiting the stalls on Saturday afternoon confirmed that this year’s event was the biggest and best so far. That people were here from Yorkshire, Essex and Lancashire, to name but a few, shows why it must now be the nation’s number one Christmas market – up from second place. But why can’t this wonderful spirit of happiness last beyond Christmas?

I’d like to say a very big thank you to Tommy Wilson for your most generous donation to the Mayor’s Charities, for the benefit of those in need and who are less fortunate than others.

The Be My Guest programme offering a tour, tea, and chat in The Parlour for schoolchildren is blooming with the latest visitors from Hollymount, Perrywood, Perdiswell, Pitmaston, St. Josephs, and Blessed Edward Oldcorne schools. Many of the children’s drawings depicting what they liked best about the visits are displayed in The Guildhall foyer. They’re absolutely delightful, so do come in and have a look. There’s even one of me which actually makes me look thin!

Recognising the international dimension of the Mayor’s role, I hosted a reception for the Mayor of Ukmerge in Lithuania, with which Worcester is associated; and I attended the Ushakov Medal Ceremony with the Russian consul to reward those heroes who manned the wartime Arctic convoys.

Supporting charity fundraising took me to the Friends of the Museum of Royal Worcester Annual Dinner where, sitting amongst the former factory’s ware over the centuries, I kept wondering how the company could have closed. But the museum lives on and you can get some special Christmas presents in the superb gift shop.

I was most impressed by the first Graduation Ceremony of the Worcestershire Children’s University, whereby children graduate if they gain the necessary points for doing extra-curricular work. I have agreed that The Guildhall will become the first (and only) validation centre for Worcestershire.

My first Christmas Lunch was hosted by The Friends of KGV – Thanks to Biddy and Mal Furlong, the organisers.

 

The Take Pride volunteers’ Thank You event at The Guildhall saw many people receive awards for the work they do for others in the community – testament to the nature of our City. Allan Barnett, Chair of the Friends of Gheluvelt Park, was singled out for particular praise.

Separately, the Lions Club of Worcester, who also give so much of their time fundraising for worthy causes, did me the highest honour by making me an Honorary Lion at their 45th Charter Dinner.

Most of Friday was spent in the Cathedral participating in our University’s Graduation ceremonies, watching so many students about to take on the challenges of the real and often hostile big wide world out there.

Hosting an Open Day in the Guildhall Parlour for the 150th Anniversary of the Mayoral Chain demonstrated another aspect of my open-door policy – reaching out to people to interest them in the work of the Mayoralty. Both adults and children enjoyed trying on the Chain and getting a photo.  The Chain’s fame lies in its uniqueness of being solid gold.

It was a pleasure to open the Kids Run Free running event at Cob House Fisheries. Worcester is its 15th location and is designed to create fun by awakening children’s enthusiasm for sport and outdoor activities. Even though I was sinking into the mud in the pouring rain, the kids loved it! How refreshing to see children not glued to some mobile phone with plugs stuck in their ears gawping at a computer screen.

During lunch with Mr Sardar Sadiq, the Speaker of the Pakistani National Assembly, I told him that Benazir Bhutto, the murdered former Prime Minister, was an Oxford University friend of mine. Mr Sadiq accepted my invitation to pay an official visit to see more of the City, and he graciously reciprocated. Thank you Councillor Allah Ditta for organising the event at short notice.

Having attended the Installation of the new Archdeacon of Worcester in the Cathedral and then welcoming the Reverend Julie-Ann Watson as Team Rector at St Barnabas, it was heartening to see that the ecclesiastical life of the City is flourishing.

Finally, hosting tea in The Parlour is always a pleasure – this week for Ruth and Barry Dixon; and Julie, Adrian and Holly Tidberough.

A mixture of sadness, pride, and fun this week.

Laying a wreath at Astwood Road Cemetery in remembrance of prisoners of war was another timely reminder of what war actually means. The Lights of Love in aid of St. Richards Hospice was an opportunity to celebrate the memories of our loved ones who are no longer with us. After the Cathedral service, we processed down to St. Andrew’s Spire where we placed our lit candles on the ground. The Worcester Festival Choral Society’s Faure Requiem in the Cathedral was a piece of very moving beauty which felt very apt at that time.  Congratulations to the WFCS Chairman, Ben Cooper.

Pride came with my visit to Perry Wood Primary School for their World War One Tea Party where the children had made so many beautiful art and craft items. It was difficult to choose a winner, because every item was a winner in my mind. My thank you was to invite the reception class winners to The Parlour for tea and cakes.  And how nice it was to see the children talking to the many residents from the local Care Homes who had been invited along.

I was immensely proud at Tudor Grange Academy’s Prize evening in the Cathedral. As so many of my constituents’ children go there, it was heart-warming to see so many familiar names picking up their awards. And, again, at the Worcestershire Group Training Association Annual Apprentice Awards Evening at Sixways, I saw so many young people realising their potential having attained the right level and type of skills to pursue careers they were obviously enjoying. There’s a message there for all our students in schools and colleges.

The fun part was turning on the Christmas Lights outside The Guildhall from the top of a double-decker bus. The crowds were amazing and stretched as far as I could see up to Foregate Street Station. As that moment marks the beginning of the Christmas shopping season, I urged everybody to enjoy the extra shopping hours and be happy.

As always, the Swan Theatre came up trumps with their production of “Noises Off”, a very fitting farcical way to end another wonderful week.

 

 

 

 

 

The Remembrance Sunday Ceremony attracted the largest crowds ever, testament to the honour and gratitude we all owe to the heroes who gave us everything they had – their lives. The Woodbine Willie commemoration in St. John’s cemetery in the afternoon and the Remembrance Day wreath laying reinforced this message.

My father was at Dunkirk, Kohima, and Gloucester Hill in Korea. Surviving just one of those battles would have been remarkable, but to have survived all three was certainly against the odds. Where would this country be today without heroes like that?

In remembering all the wars since the Second World War, let me draw your attention to the large plaque above the Roll of Honour in The Guildhall. This took me over one year’s determined effort to get put up some years ago, to commemorate all those killed in the more recent conflicts, such as Korea, who do not have a memorial of their own.

The Never Forget musical at The Swan Theatre was high energy song and dance, but also had a serious underlying message – well done to Dick Saunders – as did the opening of the World War One in The Words of Worcestershire People exhibition, at the City Art Gallery.

My sporting prowess continued to be tested with a really lovely event, opening the first Filipino Winter Basketball League at Bishop Perowne school. For a few seconds, I felt very athletic tossing the ball to start the first game of the tournament; then I quickly got out of the way! (British players are also involved.)  Basketball is tremendous fun to watch – it’s such a fast-moving all-year-round sport, a good alternative to football. And thank you for making me so welcome.

The Herefordshire & Worcestershire Sports Awards at Sixways was a high tech affair, during which we heard some moving stories about players’ struggles to succeed. Persistence is clearly the dominant factor.

This was clearly demonstrated by Worcester City last Sunday, with their epic FA Cup First Round victory over Coventry.  I’d like to offer my heartfelt congratulations to all the players; this city is so proud of you.