Mayor of Worcester

Monday 23^rd: In spite of the defeat of the Spanish Armada I still receive many visitors from Spain. Twenty two students came to the Parlour this morning as part of exchange arrangements with Prince Henry’s High School (Evesham).

It was a really enjoyable evening in the Town Hall of Evesham to celebrate, with the Mayor, Cllr. James Bulman, and guests, St. George’s Day: the “Best of British Celebration”: Worcestershire ham with Vale of Evesham asparagus…a great combination. We were entertained by the Avonbank Brass Band in the style of the “last night of the proms”.

Tuesday 24^th: The last informal chat of my mayoral year with Duncan Sharkey in the Parlour, our Managing Director.

Students (14 year olds) from the H?lderlin Gymnasium in Stuttgart are at Blessed Edward Oldcorne Catholic College and as part of their stay was a visit to the Guildhall.

New College Worcester (Whittington Road) has a worldwide reputation for educating students who have impaired sight. A small group came to the Parlour this afternoon: Jane was there to assist with the accompanying teachers. We had to adapt our presentation but it was great fun and I was impressed by the students’ knowledge.

The Training Ship Ark Royal unit 5 of the Navy Training Corps was launched on 9^th November 2009. The Corps is a National Youth Organisation promoting adventurous activities for Junior Cadets 8 – 12 years old and cadets 12 – 18 years old. Youth of the UK are given opportunities for realising their potential, instilling in them a sense of pride. The cadets’ experiences and long-lasting friendships provide an excellent platform for adulthood. This is such an important organisation so I was pleased to attend a Cadet Presentation Evening held in the King George V Community Centre in Brickfields. I had the honour of presenting some of the awards with Captain R. Tyrrell and then to address the Ship’s Company.

Wednesday 25^th: It was a cold damp morning to go to the official send off for the narrowboat “Lord Toulouse” from the Workman Gardens on the banks of the River Avon in Evesham. The “Lord Toulouse” has been selected to represent Worcestershire at the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee River Thames Pageant on 3^rd June in London. It will join a 1,000 boats from all over the Commonwealth (see more on thamsesdiamondjubileepageant.org/).

I have always had a fascination with things botanical. The children at Dines Green School are showing great enthusiasm too. Jane and I joined the children, head teacher (Steve Gough), staff and friends to scatter the first wildflower seeds on a newly prepared site for a wildflower garden. The “After School Garden Club” have worked hard to create this. They will learn so much from their endeavours.

“Measuring time is something all living organisms manage to achieve and they do this, remarkably, by using an internal clock which tells them time of day and time of year”. We, of course, realise this when we experience jet lag travelling rapidly by air from West to East or East to West. Professor Sir Brian Follett, Professor of Zoology at the University of Oxford, delivered a fascinating Annual Fellows’ Lecture at the University of Worcester entitled “A Question of Time”. He analysed a complex subject in a way that made it comprehendible to everyone.

Thursday 26^th: The City Council’s Planning Committee met this afternoon: the last before the City elections on Thursday next week.

The Rotary Club of Worcester Severn invited Jane and me to their Annual Vocational and Community Awards Dinner held in the Grandstand Suite of the Racecourse. A thoroughly enjoyable evening when I presented the awards to four citizens who had contributed much to local activities. It is traditional at this event for the Mayor to give a speech about the past mayoral year and touch on matters of importance to Worcester. The latter I summed up with one word: “Pride”!!

Friday 27^th: The River School is just outside the City’s boundary on the Droitwich Road in Fernhill Heath. Jane and I were invited to the opening of the Pond: “Water of Life Project”. Sir Ghillean Prance, former Director of the Royal Botanical Gardens at Kew, was also present. The school is in a wonderful setting with eight acres of land mainly dedicated to wildlife. The Pond had been reinstated for wildlife having been abandoned in the 1980’s. The project was supported by a successful bid to the National Lottery.

Another visit to Dines Green Community Primary School, this time to open an area of the Playground upon which had been laid out a map of the world. This was divided up into twenty equilateral triangles in order to “flatten” the globe. Gavin Wade (international artist and director of Eastside projects in Birmingham) had worked with the children on the design. This is “to encourage new ways of looking at the world – it is a break from the standard globe format and it will promote new ideas and questions about borders, landmasses, population and cultures. (It is) a way of empowering children to look at the world afresh and think about the future and how we want to live in the universe”. (Nathaniel Pitt, Curator).

I first met Richard Wood on 28^th February when he and Kath Wood (no relation), neurological physiotherapist, came to the Parlour to discuss their idea of setting up a charity to “enable individuals with long-term neurological disabilities the opportunity to access further, on-going rehabilitation”. Richard had rowed solo across the Atlantic in 2004 but in 2006 he had a stroke paralysing his left side. He has learnt to walk and remains an amazingly ambitious man. I was therefore delighted to host, in the Guildhall with about 20 guests, the launch of “ReActive” the name of this new initiative. More information on www.Reactive.org.uk

The Kings Norton Golf Club is an idyllic setting and that is where the Bromsgrove and District Council Civic Charity Dinner Dance took place this evening. Cllr. Caroline Spencer is the Civic Head and John Spencer her Consort. Peter Luff MP (Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence Equipment, Support and Technology) was the Guest Speaker. A most enjoyable evening that raised much needed funds for “Help for Heroes”.

Saturday 28^th: Last year the Worcester Motor Festival was held on 21^st May but this year, because of so many other events, it was brought forward to today.

Once more Jane and I had great fun going around the exhibitions with Nadja von Dahlen (Events Co-ordinator of VisitWorcester) meeting the representatives of dealerships from near and far and those who had brought their magnificent vintage cars for display.

Again I congratulate VisitWorcester in partnership with the “Worcester News”, for organising such a successful show. In spite of the cold weather and rising water level of the River Severn the event was well attended. See more on www.visitworcester.com/motorfestival

The enthusiasm of young people for drama was shown this afternoon at a double bill put on by the Perdiswell Drama Club in the Bishop Perowne School Theatre. The younger group (aged 8 – 12 years) staged a short production of “Ug”. Strange events unfolded when Harry spilt cherryade to reveal a stone-age boy. This was followed by a “Field Trip to Murder” that had been devised by the 12 – 16 year olds and played by them. An intriguing “who dunnit”: an unpopular PE teacher is found dead on a year 11 outward bound course……

Malcolm Goldring, Artistic Director “Sing UK”, conducted “Sing Encore” in the Cathedral this evening. Quoting from Malcolm’s introduction: “We in Sing UK want to do what we can to ensure that young people can access music and music-making of the highest order….and…come together to perform it with our local professional orchestra and three outstanding professional soloists….”. Roman Carnival Overture (Hector Berlioz), Mors et Vita: Judex Sedenti in Throno (Charles Gounod), Gloria (Francis Poulenc) and St. Cécilia Mass (Charles Gounod). The English Symphony Orchestra, the soloists (Rachel Nicholls (soprano), James Edwards (tenor) and Alexander Baker (bass)) and the choir gave the audience of 400 a wonderful time!

And do not forget the Worcester International Festival for Young Singers (WIFYS) that is coming for 19^th – 27^th July 2013. This will be presented by “Sing UK” in co-operation with the European Choral Association: Europa Cantat. For more information see www.singuk.org or telephone 07980 143272 or e-mail Malcolm Golding Malcolm@singuk.org or Anne Renshaw anne@singuk.org.

Sunday 29^th: The Civic Service for the Mayor of Upton upon Severn took place this afternoon in the Parish Church of St. Peter and St. Paul. It was a lovely event with the local school children and choirs contrtibuting.

Tuesday 17^th: My PA, Susan O’Kane, met the church warden, Mrs. Caroline Mayfield, at Whittington Church to plan the Mayoral Thanksgiving Service on Saturday, May 5^th.

Wednesday 18^th: It was a special pleasure this morning to welcome ten children from Gorse Hill Community Primary School to the Parlour. This was a treat for them as a reward for being the finalists in a recent “Junior Youth Speaks Competition”. Their keenness to learn about our local history was very gratifying. They were well behaved, confident and a credit to themselves, their parents, their school and their community.

A local Ladies’ Luncheon Club came for tea in the parlour and a tour this afternoon. Judging from their delight at what they see it has become more and more clear to me that still few know just what there is to see in the Guildhall.

The first Annual Mayor of Worcester’s Lecture, in association with the Civic Society (President Professor Michael Clarke CBE), was presented on 22^nd. April 1999 by Sir William Lawrence, Chairman of the Heart of England Tourist Board, with the title “A Vision for Worcester, a Place to Visit and a Place to Live”. This evening over 100 people came to the Guildhall and heard an excellent and thought provoking lecture by Gavin Stamp entitled “Britain’s Lost Cities”. Gavin is a well known historian and Channel 5 TV Presenter. He demonstrated the fact that, although there was much destruction during the Second World War, there was also huge amounts of damage and demolition that took place before and after the war. We have lost so much. Although Worcester did not suffer significantly from bombing there has certainly been a great loss of wonderful historic buildings in the name of progress. I quote from “Wikitravel”: “The city was heavily renovated during the ‘60’s and ‘70’s and not very sympathetically. Numerous old roads and courtyards were demolished. The last Cathedral Lychgate in England was demolished along with Sir Edward Elgar’s shop to make way for a charmless hotel and a multi-storey car park. This is known locally as “The Rape of Worcester””. I hope, and believe, we have learnt from those days.

Thursday 19^th: College Luis Ortiz Saint Dizier in France has a partnership arrangement with Hagley High School. Forty nine 13 – 14 year olds from the College are on a linguistic visit. Part of their visit included a trip to Worcester to see the Guildhall especially. As always they were impressed by our history and also to learn that we have links with two French towns namely Vernon and Le Vésinet.

Friday 20^th: An early meeting in the Parlour with representatives of the armed forces, police and others to discuss the plans for the parade through the City on Wednesday 27^th. June prior to Armed Forces Day on Saturday 30^th. June. Watch this space: it will be spectacular.

“Café 43”, in the Upper Tything, have joined with the Royal Grammar School to arrange a competition to design pictures for table place mats. There were many very colourful entries and the three winners (Danielle Greening, Natasha Bratton and Keira Brady) came along to “Café 43” so that I could present the prizes. Well done girls.

At the end of the morning I entertained 16 visitors from Bangladesh. They are here (14^th. April – 26^th. May) from the Ministry of Public Administration of the Government of Bangladesh studying a number of projects from waste management to health clinic arrangements.

It was an additional special pleasure this afternoon to welcome twelve children from St. Barnabas’ Church of England Primary School to the Parlour. As for the children from Gorse Hill Primary School on Wednesday this was a treat for them as a reward for being the finalists in the “Junior Youth Speaks Competition”. They were yet another group of children who are a credit to our City.

Worcester really is ahead of the game for planning the marking of the Centenary, in 2014, of the outbreak of the First World War in 1914. The mayoral committee met in the parlour to gather progress. Another space to watch.

The magnificent French Suite in the Chateau Impney was the venue for the Annual Civic Charity Ball of Councillor Mike Barratt (Mayor of Droitwich Spa) and Mayoress, Mrs. Lynda Barratt. A great evening raising a lot of money for St. Richard’s Hospice and MacMillan Cancer Support.

Chateau Impney (Photo from Wikipedia)

Now that was a busy day!!

Saturday 21^st: To be interviewed live can be a daunting prospect. But this morning was an enjoyable occasion on “Choice Radio” at the Richard Young Centre in the Worcestershire Royal Hospital. Tony Deakin was the Presenter and we chatted around my life and the role of mayor. My six selections of music were:

• A Rwandan piece (“Kamalila”) that had been sent to me by friends in Rwanda.
• “Rain drops Keep Falling on My Head”.
• The Alleluia chorus from Handel’s “Messiah”.
• “Somewhere over the Rainbow”.
• Concerto No. 2 in G minor “L’estate” Presto by Vivaldi and played by Nigel Kennedy.
• The South African National Anthem: “Nkosi Sikelel’ iAfrica”.

You can listen to the recording on: https://skydrive.live.com/?cid=c1653b287b22ffcf&resid=C1653B287B22FFCF!130&id=C1653B287B22FFCF!130

Jane and I visited the “Wustock” 2012 (Worcester Rock City) Concert held in the Christopher Whitehead Language College and at which I gave a short speech. “Wustock” is a family friendly community music festival celebrating home grown musical talent. Worcester Rock City was founded in 2009 and since then it has hosted over 100 bands. This initiative has facilitated individual bands to work together to promote the collective music movement.

What a week this is turning out to be! Another big dinner event this evening for St. George’s Day. Jane and I were invited by Major Stephen Dwyer and 214 (Worcestershire) Battery at Dancox House to attend this evening to celebrate. A great military occasion

Sunday 22^nd: The Worcester District Scout Council held its St. George’s Day Service in the Cathedral and led by The Rev. Caon Alvyn Pettersen. Hundreds of scouting members and their leaders, family and friends packed the pews. The service was followed by a march past at which Worcester District Scout Commissioner Mark Strain and I took the salute outside the Guildhall. The scouting movement in Worcester is undoubtedly thriving demonstrating the best of our young people.

St George’s Day Parade

Monday 9^th: Irving Berlin was inspired by the Easter Parade down Fifth Avenue from St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City and wrote:

“In your Easter bonnet with all the frills upon it,

You’ll be the grandest lady in the Easter parade”.

It was rather a damp Bank Holiday Monday but there were still a number of entries for the Easter Hat Parade along the High Street to the Guildhall. The star of the show was the little dog with his splendid bonnet.

The Easter Bonnet is a tradition of wearing new clothes at Easter time fitting in with the renewal of the year. In the Great Depression a new hat at Easter, or even a homemade or old one, was a luxury. The English tradition of new clothes at Easter is noted in William Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet” where Mercutio teases Benvolio: “Did’st thou not fall out with a Tailor for wearing his new Doublet before Easter?”

Tuesday 10^th: A catching up day dealing with a backlog of editing for the South Sudan Medical Journal. I always find this a pleasure and satisfying to help provide the only medical journal in that young independent country.

Wednesday 11^th: Newly appointed staff of the Worcester City Council are provided with a detailed induction programme. I am always delighted to contribute with a talk about “Being Mayor” and I did today.

Worcester City Council staff induction

Thursday 12^th: On 28^th. March Jane and I were invited to the Oxfam Shop in Mealcheapen Street to see behind the scenes. So I reciprocated today by inviting the staff to the Parlour for “tea” and a tour.

Friday 13^th: The White Star Line ship the RMS Titanic set sail on her maiden voyage from Southampton to New York on 10^th April 1912. On Sunday 14^th April at 11.40pm., about 375 miles south of Newfoundland, a large iceberg was spotted from the look out in the crow’s nest. The ship was unable to avoid a collision and struck the iceberg with a glancing blow leading to a gash in the hull for 300 feet and below the water line. Less than three hours later at 2.20am. on 15^th April the Titanic sank. There were 2,216 people on board and only 710 survived being rescued from lifeboats by RMS Carpathia.

The One Off Performance Society put on an amazing show of the musical “Titanic”. Jane and I were privileged to be invited to see this evening’s performance. It was an emotional rollercoaster knowing the outcome but not knowing how the various parts would be portrayed: collision with the iceberg, the listing of the ship, the panic and final demise and tragedy. It was composed by the American Maury Yeston and premièred in 1997.

Saturday 14^th: Twenty five years ago in 1987 the Worcester Twinning Association was established and our City was twinned with Kleve in Germany. To mark this 25^th anniversary Jane and I accompanied the Chairman and about twenty members of the Association to Kleve Walk beside the River Severn and the Kleve black swan. Here we attached a laurel garland to the swan just after which there was a spontaneous “fly past” of six beautiful white swans along the river.

St. Swithun’s Church has origins back to 1126. It was rebuilt in 1734 – 1736 and remains a stylish and almost unaltered example of early Georgian church architecture. Most noticeable inside is the three-decker pulpit with its wonderful tester surmounted by a gilded pelican feeding her young. Beneath it is the mayor’s pew and ceremonial sword rest. In 1977 this church passed into the guardianship of the Churches Conservation Trust. For more information about this treasure see www.stswithunschurch.org.uk.

This afternoon to celebrate Eastertide a Service of Readings and Hymns was held. With Sword Bearer, Mace Bearers and councillor colleagues Jane and I processed from the Guildhall to St. Swithun’s Church for the service taking our place in the mayor’s pew.

St Swithuns Church

Cllr. Tony Miller, Chairman of Wychavon District Council and his Consort, Mrs. Katherine Miller held their Diamond Jubilee Charity Ball this evening at the Worcester Rugby Club, Sixways Stadium. Most enjoyable company and food and at the same time raising vital funds for “Cross Roads Care” and “Acorns Hospice”.

Monday 2^nd: Tim Clarke, Editor of the Worcester Standard came for our monthly chat about Worcester stories.

Tuesday 3^rd: We had our meeting with representatives of the Worcester Farmers’ Overseas Action Group and Leukaemia Care. In spite of the economic climate we feel we have raised a significant amount of money for these charities…watch this space for the final figure.

Wednesday 4^th: Jane and I had the honour of welcoming Her Royal Highness, The Princess Royal, on her visit to the Youth Support Services (YSS) centre in Carden Street. The Princess became Patron in 2008. The YSS has its origins back to 1985 when it was called The Intensive Support Scheme. It is a multi-agency partnership to provide support programmes for young people aged up to 17 years old who were at risk of being sent to custody and social exclusion. It was part of the Worcestershire Diocesan Board of Social Responsibility. In 1992 the name was changed to YSS. The tour around the centre demonstrated how well a number of organisations are working together very successfully.

Thursday 5^th: The Rotary Clubs of Worcester have five Rotarians from Sri Lanka here on a Group Study Exchange visit. We had a most pleasant Dinner in the Graeme Hick Suite of the Worcestershire County Cricket Club this evening. The Sri Lankan visitors gave fascinating presentations about their country and what Rotary does.

Friday 6^th: It has been a long time since we went to a Scouts’ Gang Show. This evening was great fun at the entertainment put on by the Explorer Scouts at the Chantry High School, Martley. They had only one week to rehearse so well done everyone.

Explorer Scouts form a section of the Scout Association in the United Kingdom for 14- to 18-year-olds. It began in 2001 replacing Venture Scouts. The aim is the provision of a flexible and active Scouting programme for adolescents emphasising personal challenge and adventure. Explorer Scouts meet as Units, are organised at the District level, participate in linkages with local Scout Groups and are able to attain the Queen’s Scout Award, which is the highest Scouting Award.

Saturday 7^th: I welcomed the five Rotary Club visitors from Sri Lanka to the parlour this morning telling them something about our local history and traditions.

In May last year about ten veterans of the Worcestershire Home Guard came to the Parlour for tea and a Reunion. It was so enjoyable they wanted to do it again this year and 24 turned up. It was a great privilege talking to these men and women who did so much for their country during the Second World War.

Talking to the veterans about Mayoral duties.

Worcestershire Home Guard and their families

Sunday 8^th: Happy Easter Everyone!