Mayor of Worcester

Last week I mentioned our planning the commemoration, in August 2014, of the Centenary of the outbreak of the First World War and the request for ideas. It has recently been brought to my attention the “Adoption of Gouzeaucourt (France) by Worcester” (in conjunction with the British League of Help for Devastated Areas of France) on 1^st February 1921. Our mayor at the time was Ald. Charles Edwards JP.

Gouzeaucourt is in northern France and was captured by the 8th Division on 12-13 April 1917 and lost on 30 November 1917 at the end of the Battle of Cambrai. It was recaptured on the same day by the 1st Irish Guards but lost again on 22 March 1918 but finally retaken by the 21st Division on 8 October. There are 916 casualties from several nations buried at the Gouzeaucourt New British Cemetery.

Gouzeaucourt New British Cemetery

Wednesday 11^th: To reach 100 years of age is a wonderful  achievement. So Jane and I were delighted to attend the birthday party of Mrs. Elsie Miles at “The Willows”. She was clearly excited about this special event surrounded by her family and friends…and of course a card personally signed by Her Majesty The Queen. Just think: this lady was born in the year that Scott reached the South Pole and four days before the Titanic sank in the Atlantic.

Thursday 12^th: The Worcester Twinning Association met this evening to discuss and progress our relationships with our four twin towns: Kleve (Germany), Le Vésinet (France), Worcester (USA) and Ukmerge (Lithuania). We also have a friendship arrangement with Vernon (France). This year 2012 is special being our 25^th. anniversary of twinning with Kleve. Membership of the Association is open to residents of Worcester and its surrounding villages….so do join us (web site: www.worcester-international-link.org.uk).

During the meeting we heard about the exciting news of a Worcester International Festival for Young Singers 19^th – 27^th July 2013. This will be the first ever festival of its kind in the United Kingdom. It will bring 400 young people from 48 European countries and elsewhere in the world (e.g. Singapore and the USA) singing together under the banner of “Peace and Unity between Nations”. The organisers are “Sing UK” in partnership with the European Choral Association – Europa Cantat. There will be concerts, workshops (ateliers), street singing and then on 26^th July 2013 a final Gala Concert. But why in Worcester? I quote from the brochure: “Worcester presents a fine location to hold the event. With its compact city centre, wealth of historic, cultural and musical heritage, attractive setting, excellent educational facilities and access by road, rail and air, Worcester has it all – providing a great opportunity for the city to become the proud new UK home for this international event!” More information on the web site: www.singuk.org

Our city is blessed with fantastic views and none greater than the Malvern Hills to the South and West. Did you see the amazing sunset this evening? Layers of turquoise, orange, apricot, reds and slate grey above the length of the Hills… I have never seen such a spectacular sight. Did anyone take a photograph?

The time of sunset is the moment the trailing edge of the sun’s disk disappears below the western horizon. The light from the setting sun is greatly distorted near the horizon because of atmospheric refraction, making sunset appear to occur when the Sun is actually below the horizon. As white sunlight passes through the atmosphere, some of the colours are scattered by air particles, changing the final colour of the beam leaving the oranges and reds. The evening air contains more particles than morning air so sunrise colours are less brilliant than sunset colours.

Sunset looking south-east over the city, towards the Malvern Hills this week

“Red sky at night shepherds’ delight, red sky in the morning, shepherds’ warning.” Some say “bishops” or “sailors” instead of “shepherds”.

One hundred years ago, January 1912, was an interesting month for events: The Republic of China was established, The Scout Association was incorporated throughout the British Commonwealth by Royal Charter, The African National Congress was founded, The English polar explorer Captain Robert Falcon Scott and a team of four reached the South Pole only to discover that Roald Amundsen had got there before, The International Opium Convention was signed at The Hague, the world’s first flying boat’s maiden flight and the moon was nearer to the earth than it had been this century at 356,375 kms. Wow!

It seemed very odd to have few mayoral engagements this week but at least it gave Jane and me a chance to recharge our civic batteries.

Wednesday 4^th: The group planning the commemoration, in August 2014, of the Centenary of the outbreak of the First World War is coming up with some interesting ideas. We met in the Parlour this afternoon. It is clear from what Lord Faulkner tells us that we in Worcester are “ahead of the game”. What we now need to do is crystallise our thoughts into a provisional plan. However we do want to involve as many people as possible in making contributions. So we will be placing a leaflet and box in the Guildhall Lower Hall for suggestions or you can write to me directly.

Thursday 5^th: David Candler, who stepped down as a City Councillor last year, died on 13^th December. Jane and I felt privileged to represent the City at his funeral today. David was a true friend even though we were of different political persuasions. I cannot improve on the words in the “Independent” newspaper: “….A forthright, unassuming man of great charm, aided by a dry wit, Candler kept life in politics in proportion; hating pomposity, he was never scared of asking difficult questions which helped to remind politicians who they were serving.”  I think we should all remember that!

The City Council’s Planning Committee was held later than usual at 7pm. The consideration of the application for a new stadium for the Worcester Football Club was the major item, the debate lasting three hours. I eventually reached home at mid night!

Is tonight “Twelfth Night” or tomorrow? The Shorter Oxford English Dictionary says it is “the evening of the 5^th January, preceding Twelfth Day, the eve of the Epiphany, formerly the last day of the Christmas festivities and observed as a time of merrymaking”. But there is confusion as some count the night of Epiphany itself (6^th January) to be “Twelfth Night”. If you count 25^th December as the first day of Christmas then the 5^th January is the correct. Whichever day you favour do not leave your Christmas decorations up after “Twelfth Night”…it’s said to be unlucky!

Friday 6^th: Another meeting with the Rotary Club of Worcester to continuing the planning for our joint “Diamond Celebration Dinner” on Friday, 10^th February. It is really taking shape now so please come and enjoy this “posh street party” booking your places through the Mayor’s office: 01905 722001 or susan.okane@worcester.gov.uk.

Monday 26^th: Boxing Day and no mayoral engagements.

Originally “Boxing Day” was the day following Christmas when wealthy people would give a gift box to their servants. But now Boxing Day is a public holiday on December 26^th. or the first weekday after Christmas Day. It is the day associated with St Stephen, the patron saint of horses, so Boxing Day became linked with horse-racing and hunting.

Wednesday 28^th: The origins of “Jack and the Beanstalk” may go back to the Vikings. It first appeared in print in 1807. Jane and I were invited to a performance at the Swan Theatre this evening and took our four-year-old twin grand-daughters: it was as much fun watching them as it was the stage!

Sunday 1^st January 2012: Some wonderful news! In the Queen’s New Year’s Honours List was a great friend Sister Helen Spragg. I have known Helen for a long time and seen her work, as a Medical Missionary of Mary, of over ten years from the Kirambi Health Centre in Rwanda. She has transformed the health of the Community and the Batwa people in particular. She richly deserves this MBE.

Sister Helen Spragg

Map of Rwanda, including Kirambi

We approach 2012 concerned about the economy but let us not allow that to dim our anticipation of so many good things: the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations, the Olympic Torch coming through Worcester, the Games themselves, the completion of the Library and History Centre, the University’s Arena.

Let us also not forget those worse off than us especially in Africa. International aid may be controversial but properly targeted an enormous amount of good can be done with remarkably little resource. Worcester has contributed in no small way. The Worcester Farmers’ Overseas Action Group has assisted communities in Uganda, the Worcester City Council, funded by DfID, has made a significant difference to the economic development of a Ghanaian district council and I have worked with others assisting Rwanda, South Sudan and Uganda.

My next mayor’s fund-raising event with the Rotary Club of Worcester is on Friday, 10^th February: “A Diamond Celebration Dinner” in the Guildhall. It should be great fun as a “posh street party”. Do come. Book your places through the Mayor’s office: 01905 722001 or susan.okane@worcester.gov.uk.

I have just finished reading “The Story of Worcester” by Pat Hughes and Annette Leach launched in the Commandery in October. The detail is amazing. I was struck especially by the very last paragraph: “The city flourishes and is a delightful place to live, large enough to have adequate amenities and set in attractive, easily accessible, countryside. Its history is fascinating; its future is in our hands. To borrow the motto from the Royal Grammar School, “Respice et Prospice” – “Remember the past and look to the future”.

Monday 19^th: The City Council’s  Local Economic Development project (funded by the Department for International Development) with the Adentan Municipal Assembly in Ghana has been a great success. Officially it has now ended and our “Final Project Report” has been sent to the Commonwealth Local Government Forum (CLGF). However there is a significant resource left over and we are hoping that the CLGF will approve our using it to take forward a Master Planning initiative in Adentan. With that in mind I met James Blackwell, an officer in our Planning Department, to discuss the next possible steps.

Christmas is a time to bring as many colleagues together so I was pleased that a number from the City Council took up my invitation to come to the Parlour in their lunch break to share some festive cheer. We really do have a great team working for the City: I am proud of every one of them!

Students from The Regency High School Sports College came to sing in the City after which Jane and I were delighted to welcome them to the Parlour. As always children are so interested in the treasures.

The Worcester District Scout Carol Service took place in the Cathedral this evening. This was combined with a special interpretation of the “Nativity”. The readers were excellent although there were times when the acoustics didn’t do them justice. Well done to them all.

Tuesday 20^th: “A Celebration of Christmas” for the Worcester College of Technology was held at 11am. in the beautiful All Saints Church (Deansway). I have lived in Worcester for 35 years and this is the first time I have been into All Saints….what an admission!!

Wednesday 21^st: The Cathedral was packed this evening and that included the side aisles. This was the occasion of the “Worcester News” Traditional Christmas Carol Service. The Very Reverend Peter Atkinson, Dean of Worcester, welcomed the congregation and then followed a magnificent service. As always the Cathedral Choir was outstanding. This was truly a community event! Afterwards Peter John, Editor of the ”Worcester News”, brought his team and guests to the Parlour for “mulled wine and minced pies”.

Thursday 22^nd: It is important to support local companies so I was pleased to attend a reception given by “Titania” at their offices in the County House, St. Mary’s Street. “Titania” is indeed a rapidly expanding software development company trading worldwide and “bucking the economic gloom and doom”.

There are no words to adequately describe the wonder of The Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols in the Cathedral this evening. The huge congregation enjoyed music by The Boy Choristers and Lay Clerks of the Worcester Cathedral Choir, Christopher Allsop and George Castle at the Organ and Jonathan Holland playing the Trumpet with Adrian Lucas conducting.

Saturday 24^th: The usual “last minute” dash to get everything ready for Christmas…only this year it was even more “last minutish”!!

Our son William arrived around 11pm. with his wife Yuri and four-year-old twin daughters, Kimi and Yumi. Mercifully this meant that that slept late the next morning!!

Sunday 25^th: It is a long time since I have been to hospital on Christmas Day. Jane and I were invited to tour the Worcestershire Royal Hospital this morning. It was a pleasure to greet the staff and patients… five babies (all girls!!) born already today and four more expected.

The rest of the day was spent in our traditional Christmas family way.

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I was elected Mayor on 17^th May 2011: how quickly the time has passed. Jane and I have enjoyed every moment of more than 300 engagements.

The “View from the Parlour” is a privilege. We have met large numbers of people of all ages and backgrounds from across Worcester all of whom love our City. Visitors from many parts of the world, and especially our twinned towns in Europe and USA, have said how much they enjoy Worcester. This was clearly shown during the recent very successful Victorian Fayre.

Music has formed a large part of our enjoyment over these last seven months: The Three Choirs Festival, The Worcester Festival, The Music Festival, concerts by the Worcester Festival Choral Society, Worcester Male Voice Choir and Elgar School of Music; the Cathedral Choirs and performances by schools such as Tudor Grange, Bishop Perowne and The Royal Grammar School.

Then all the entertainment that “Worcester Live” provides through The Swan Theatre and Shakespeare at the Commandery. And of course the first Worcestershire Literary Festival.

The expanding University, The new Library and History Centre in “The Hive” (yes, I do like it!!), the renewed Riverside… I constantly receive favourable comments about all of these.

I take the opportunity, at this time of giving, to express my sincere thanks to everyone involved with fund-raising for my Mayor’s charities: Worcester Farmers’ Overseas Action Group and Leukaemia Care. In spite of these difficult financial times people have been so generous.

The Mayoralty cannot function efficiently without a lot of support. My PA, Susan O’Kane, continues to run an efficient office and Rachel Conway has done an outstanding job during Susan’s absence. I am also indebted to Frank Southam, my Sword-Bearer, the mace-bearers and other members of the Guildhall staff who are always on hand to help.

We have stated aspirations to become a First Rank Cathedral and University City… I think we are one already!!

The Mayoress and I wish you all a Very Happy New Year.