Mayor of Worcester Blog

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.

Good news for bus users this week! Starting tomorrow, First Bus will run a Sunday service along Tolladine Road to Cranham Drive. The 33b will provide an hourly frequency on Sundays for a trial period of six months. So, the message is: Use it or lose it!

 Switching on the Christmas lights was great fun! Phil and I joined Buttons and Cinderella for the big moment. I thought we might have had King Rat, too, but it was actually Humfree the Hamster. (He was really cute!). People cheered, waved light sticks and sang along with the choirs.

Congratulations to all the nominees for BBC Hereford and Worcester Sports Awards 2013! The ladies did particularly well this year, with newcomer Georgia Hennessy winning an award for cricket and Ross Junior Academy Women’s J14 rowing squad winning the Team of the Year Award. Zack Purchase was funny, self-deprecating, and every inch an Olympian.

St Richards’ Hospice Lights of Love Service was especially touching, as families came together to remember friends and loved ones and to support each other through difficult times. We lit candles and processed to St Andrew’s Spire, followed by a thawing out session with hot drinks at the Guildhall.

On Sunday, Phil and I attended a service of remembrance at Astwood Cemetery. In 1962, the mother of a young German soldier called Carl Furst contacted the Royal British Legion to ask if they would lay flowers on her son’s grave. Since then, the RBL have held a service of remembrance for all of those who fell, including POWs.

This week was a serious and thoughtful one, taking in Remembrance Sunday and Armistice Day.

On Sunday morning, Phil and I joined members of the armed forces, veterans and dignitaries for the annual service of remembrance in the cathedral. The Dean, Rev. Peter Atkinson, spoke movingly of a family’s grief, and of the need for remembrance and reconciliation.

We also remembered those shot at dawn for what was once called cowardice. Though in “a more compassionate era,” said the Dean, we now understand the toll taken by battle stress on mental health, as well as physical health.

Crowds of Worcester people turned out in brilliant sunshine for the wreath laying ceremony and two minutes’ silence at the war memorial, followed by the customary parade past the Guildhall.

During the afternoon, we gathered in St John’s Cemetery to honour the Rev Studdert-Kennedy, whose courage and compassion earned him the soldiers’ nickname, Woodbine Willie. Prayers were said, along with his poems on the waste of war and the kind of England that existed in that era. It was not a pretty picture, according to Woodbine Willie.

Woodbine Willie received special mention in the national television broadcast of the service of remembrance at the cenotaph this year. Of course, most Mayors of Worcester would think of him every day, because his photograph is displayed in the parlour.

Most of this week, I have struggled with a virus and finally gave in when I lost my voice. Phil attended Old St Martin’s Church to hear their plans for a new city garden and how they would fit into a regenerated Corn Market.

Meanwhile, Deputy Mayor, Paul Denham, attended a production of Top Of The World at the Swan Theatre and Tudor Grange Awards evening at the cathedral. Many thanks to Paul and Phil for their support.

Last week, local history teacher Andrew Trickett launched his sponsorship campaign for a bicycle ride from Worcester to Gheluvelt in Belgium.  He will be making the trip in October 2014, to mark the centenary of the outbreak of World War 1.  Proceeds will go to Acorns Hospice. Good luck to Andrew and his fellow cyclists!

 British Empire Medals were awarded to local men and women who have given outstanding service to the community. It was a proud moment for family and friends, as recipients were presented with their medals by the Lord Lieutenant.

Attendees will probably also remember the occasion because of the drilling, which started on the scaffolding outside just as the ceremony began. Happily, the builders agreed to desist until the presentations were over!

Later that day, a small delegation from Children in Need visited Worcester Cathedral on a whistle stop tour of English cathedrals. Phil and I met Pudsey and listened to a beautiful organ recital. The organiser was an impressive young lady, aged sixteen, who had given up her half-term to fund raise.

The Mayor of Stourport’s ukulele evening in aid of Acorns was a great success, despite the awful weather. The band played favourites from the sixties and seventies.

Saturday evening was eventful, as Phil and I dashed between the Round Table Bonfire and the Worcester Volunteer Centre dinner. Both were hugely enjoyable and well attended.

I was told that I would not be asked to detonate anything (a bit of a relief!) just count down and point dramatically. It seemed to work. The bonfire was spectacular!

Volunteer Centre diners enjoyed a three course meal and a thoroughly entertaining speech by BBC Hereford and Worcester’s Dave Bradley, rounding off a hectic week.