Mayor of Worcester Blog

Worcester Lifestyles volunteers were presented with certificates and qualifications at their annual meeting this week.  It was a special morning and for some, an occasion for a good hug.  Lifestyles offers opportunities to people with disabilities across Worcestershire. Upcyclers can always find something of interest at their shop in Lowesmoor, and support this hard working charity at the same time too.

Diversity Night with Age UK was as exciting as always. We were treated to a whistle-stop world tour in a single evening, featuring dance styles from India, Turkey, Ireland, the Philippines and Cuba. The Afro-Caribbean Association sang the African-American spiritual Swing Low, Sweet Chariot and a young Romanian lady sang a folk song in her native language.

Friday was a cupcake day with the Macmillan volunteers. Their Guildhall coffee morning to raise funds for cancer support was a great success.

St Swithun’s Church is one of Worcester’s hidden gems. You can see it from Mealcheapen Street, but the main door is on a secluded alleyway. This lovely Georgian church hopes to become better known and is looking for ideas for its future use. I had a tour of the organ loft, and got to meet a Harris Hawk and a Gyr Hawk up close and personal too!

On Thursday afternoon, I visited Acorns and was able to chat with families who use the hospice.  Acorns do a superb job of caring for children with life limiting conditions, and families say it has transformed their lives. Some of the children were being entertained by a beautiful golden retriever and his folk singing owner – a good time seemed to be had by all.

 

The Family Fun Day and Dog Show at Worcester Woods was the funniest event of our week. Phil and I struggled to judge the “Cutest Puppy” category. All of them were such stars! The winner was so friendly, he wriggled from end to end when he wagged his tail. Dogs of all shapes and sizes vied for prizes – and all in aid of Guide Dogs for the Blind.

WorcesterUniversity’s high tech pollen lab provides the daily pollen count for the BBC weather forecast. The lab is also doing ground breaking research on airborne allergens and diseases. Their climate controlled room is used to test products in all conditions. You can pretend to be an Arctic explorer in sub-zero temperatures or simulate tropical heat and humidity.

Barry North opened the Friends of the Swan Variety Show with the Harlequin Stage School Juniors. They performed the Sandman Dance, while Barry sang “The Old Bazaar in Cairo.”  We were treated to show songs, operatic arias and pop songs. There were dance performances from the AcademyDanceSchool and Harlequin Juniors. Barry North’s Cheeky humour and comic characters had the audience in stitches.

Worcester City Sports Awards 2013 honoured sports heroes of all ages and abilities. England rugby player Heather Fisher gave an inspirational talk about the ups and downs of her sporting career.  Luke Sugg, who captains England’s disabled cricket team, was honoured for his outstanding achievements and I met two rising stars of triathlon, Nixie Turner and Ann Price.

The local Military History Society are a knowledgeable and appreciative group. We thoroughly enjoyed their company when they visited the Guildhall this week, and would like to thank them for their kind donation to the Mayor’s charities.

 Worcester College of Technology held its graduation ceremony in the Cathedral on Friday. Students achieved qualifications in a staggering range of subjects. Congratulations to all of them, and best wishes for the future.

 Art fans braved torrential rain on Friday evening to attend the Worcester Society of Artists’ annual exhibition.  Cheeky ceramics were displayed alongside lyrical landscapes and beautifully observed wildlife studies, some extraordinarily realistic pastel portraits and a bust of Andy Murray.

 Soroptimists celebrated the 75^th anniversary of the Worcester and Malvern group with dinner at Bank House. They are currently working to improve maternal health and mortality rates in Gambia. When you consider that 1 in 8 women die in childbirth in parts of Africa, you can see why their work is so badly needed. And this is only one of their many projects.

 We had a steady stream of visitors to the Guildhall on Heritage Day. It is always a pleasure to share the city’s treasures with local people and overseas guests. On the day, we were grateful for the help of past Mayor, Andy Roberts, whose knowledge of Guildhall objects and history is legendary.

 Later on Sunday afternoon, septuagenarian Enid Corker and a group of young soldiers slogged through mud and rain to the Guildhall on the final leg of their walk to publicise soldiers’ issues. The Lieutenancy received a roll of honour from Enid -and presented her with her own copy.

Fort Royal Park has had a major make over, with new civil war themed play equipment and Kenneth Potts’s wonderful bronze plaque commemorating the Battle of Worcester. At last week’s Drum Head ceremony, the prayers were the same as those said on the eve of battle in 1651. Ben Humphrey, Chairman of the Battle of Worcester Society concluded the ceremony with words later spoken by John Adams, second president of the United States:

      “And do Englishmen so soon forget the ground where Liberty

      was fought for? All England should come in pilgrimage to this

      place once a year.”      

 Vertigo struck when I visited a Worcester Community Housing refurbishment of the high rise blocks in St Johns. Out on the scaffolding, the ground seemed a long way down – but the views were magnificent. The revamp makes the blocks seem rather like a luxury hotel: there will be a rooftop lounge, two roof gardens, new windows and bigger lifts. 

 On Friday evening, Phil and I went to an exhibition of work by local sculptor, Caro Sweet. Caro has a growing international reputation. I suspect she may become one of the top British sculpting talents of her generation. My advice? Buy now, before she becomes so well known that she is too expensive!

 New Hope, Snoezlen, and the Parents and Carers Council held a fundraising fete last Sunday. The weather was kind. There were plenty of interesting stalls and two cheeky little ponies giving rides for the children. Phil and I had fun playing tombola and came away with a good haul of chocolate, which will amuse friends, because I can’t eat it!