Mayor of Worcester

MAYOR’S WEEK: 14 – 20 SEPTEMBER

19/09/2025 Mayor Dr Matt Lamb Comments 0 Comment

Cycling is something I feel strongly about.

It benefits our health and wellbeing, reduces congestion and pollution, and helps us on the journey to a cleaner, greener Worcester.

This week I had the pleasure of visiting the Bike Worcester workshop to donate two of my old bicycles and collect a beautifully refurbished one.

The volunteers there are doing an outstanding job repairing and recycling bikes, turning unwanted machines into affordable, high-quality bicycles for people across the city.

The Mayor of Worcester with a bike

Their work is a shining example of how we can all reuse and recycle more, helping to reduce waste while at the same time making cycling accessible to those who might otherwise struggle to afford it.

I was really struck by the enthusiasm of the volunteers, whose efforts highlight the power of community spirit and the difference it can make.

Another highlight of the week was attending the University of Worcester graduation ceremonies at our magnificent Cathedral.

Graduation is always a special occasion, and this year was no exception. Hundreds of students crossed the stage to receive their degrees, cheered on by proud families and friends.

It was especially pleasing to welcome His Royal Highness the Duke of Gloucester, the University’s Chancellor, to Worcester for the ceremonies.

The Cathedral provided a truly inspiring setting to celebrate the hard work, dedication, and achievements of the graduates.

It also reminded me of the university’s central role in the life of our city – not just as an educator, but as a source of innovation, energy, and opportunity for Worcester and beyond.

Finally, I had the great pleasure of welcoming around 300 pupils from Nunnery Wood High School to the Guildhall.

I showed them the Mayor’s Parlour and spoke about the history and responsibilities of the Mayoral role.

The pupils asked thoughtful questions and showed real interest in the traditions of the office.

Afterwards, Guildhall staff led a fun and lively quiz in the beautiful Assembly Rooms, testing their knowledge of Worcester’s fascinating history and heritage. It was a joy to see so many young people engaging with the city’s past while thinking about the future.

Together, these experiences showcased Worcester at its very best – active, ambitious, and proud of its heritage and its future.

MAYOR’S WEEK 7 – 13 SEPETEMBER

12/09/2025 Mayor Dr Matt Lamb Comments 0 Comment

I have always been committed to supporting the work of our armed forces- both veterans and serving members.

Therefore, it was a privilege to join the Worcester Armed Forces and Veterans Breakfast Club as they celebrated their 10th birthday last Saturday where I was joined by the city’s Armed Forces Champion, Councillor Pat Agar.

The Breakfast Club meets at the Crown Pub on the first Saturday of the month. From just 10 people meeting together, the club has grown into a remarkable community of 100 veterans.

That growth tells its own story – one of comradeship, mutual support, and the unbreakable bond that exists between those who have served.

This is more than just a breakfast. It is a place of belonging, where laughter, friendship, and sometimes difficult memories are shared among those who truly understand.

Worcester is richer for this club and the contribution its members make to our city. As Mayor, I have met many veterans at commemorations and civic events, and it is always humbling.

We owe a huge debt of gratitude to those who serve and have served. As a city and as a nation we must continue working to ensure that service is recognised, celebrated, and supported.

There was further celebration of those who make such a difference to our city and our county when I and the Mayoress attended the Worcestershire Health and Social Care Awards at the Bank House at Bransford.

I was honoured to be one of the judges, which was no easy task given the outstanding calibre of nominees working tirelessly across health and social care.

It was a glistening evening, with fabulously dressed nominees, guests and sponsors gathered to recognise dedication, compassion and commitment.

I was especially pleased to present the Mental Health Award to Stepway, a Worcester-based charity doing outstanding work supporting veterans. Their success was richly deserved and a reminder of the difference our city’s organisations make in people’s lives.

The awards also highlighted Worcester nominees such as the Mortuary Team from Worcestershire Acute Hospitals, named NHS Team of the Year, and Sensory Matters Worcestershire, who received the Health Care Employer Award.

Worcester can take great pride in these local heroes, whose compassion and commitment reflect the very best of our community.

It was a privilege to celebrate them all and witness such a powerful reminder of the care and kindness that underpin our city.

MAYOR’S WEEK: 31 AUGUST – 6 SEPTEMBER

05/09/2025 Mayor Dr Matt Lamb Comments 0 Comment

I continue to be blown away by the support shown to all members of our community here in Worcester.

On Monday evening I had the great pleasure of visiting the Monday Night Club at Henry Sandon Hall at the Royal Porcelain Works.

The club provides a fantastic opportunity for people with learning disabilities and autism to meet their friends, dance, and enjoy each other’s company in a safe and welcoming space.

Proudly run by its members, for its members, the Monday Night Club shows how much can be achieved when people come together.

This week was “Strictly Night,” with music, glitter, and plenty of enthusiasm on the dance floor!

I was delighted to present a cheque for £733 raised by Trustee Sam Wilkes through her recent birthday fundraiser, joined by Laura Gill, the club’s inspirational founder.

Matt Lamb presenting a cheque at the Monday Night Club

It is important to remember that as Mayor I continue to play an important role in the governance of our city.

On Tuesday I had the privilege of chairing a meeting of full council in the Guildhall.

We discussed a range of important issues for the city, including transport in Worcester, the value of maintaining our allotments, and the future shape of the council as part of wider Local Government Reorganisation.

These are weighty matters that affect the lives of many residents and the character of our city.

I have always been passionate that, whatever form reorganisation eventually takes, the role of the Mayor and the majesty of the Guildhall must be preserved.

They are symbols of Worcester’s civic identity and heritage, and it is vital they continue to play a central role in our city’s story.

That history and heritage was underlined on Wednesday when I was honoured to take part in the annual Drumhead Ceremony to mark the anniversary of the Battle of Worcester, fought on 3rd September 1651.

I paraded with Civil War re-enactors from the Guildhall to Fort Royal Hill, where the ceremony took place.

The event was a moving reminder of the battle’s place in our city’s history and the many lives lost.

A minute of silence was held and its beginning and end was marked with musket fire that echoed across the hill.

After the service, I joined the re-enactors at the excellent Cardinal’s Hat Pub, where stories of the battle were shared with real passion and knowledge.

It was an inspiring way to remember Worcester’s past and those who preserve it.

MAYOR’S WEEK: 24 – 30 AUGUST 2025

29/08/2025 Mayor Dr Matt Lamb Comments 0 Comment

Last weekend Worcester once again took its rightful place at the heart of our nation’s story as the city marked its central role in the English Civil Wars with two very special events.

On Saturday, I had the honour of joining the Commemorative Parade and Drumhead Service, organised by the Battle of Worcester Society, the Worcester Re-enactors and the Sealed Knot. I led a parade of re-enactors in authentic 17th century costumes from the Guildhall to the Cathedral, where we took part in a moving drumhead service. From there we marched to Copenhagen Street to review the civil war banners hanging there.

The Mayor and Mayoress parading through a Worcester street with men in Civil War costumes

Standing among them, I reflected on Worcester’s central role in the English Civil Wars. Our city was not on the margins of that conflict – it was at its very heart. From the first clash at Powick Bridge in 1642 to the final great battle here in September 1651, Worcester was the stage upon which the struggle for the future of the nation was played out.

Few cities can claim such a central place in the history of our country, and we should be rightly proud of that heritage. The banners now hanging proudly on Copenhagen Street are more than works of art – they are recreations of the colours under which regiments marched, fought, and died. By bringing them back to life, students from Worcester Sixth Form College, Royal Grammar School Worcester and Heart of Worcestershire College have given us a living memorial that connects today’s generations with those who lived through those turbulent years.

The commemorations continued on Sunday and Monday with Worcester Under Siege at Bennetts Willow Barn. Families were transported back to the 17th century with living history camps, artillery, cavalry, and a full battle re-enactment staged on the very soil where history was once made. The mayoress and I were given a fascinating guided tour of the event and, at the culmination of the battle on Monday, I was proud to receive a wonderful flag bearing the city’s coat of arms on behalf of Worcester.

Both events reminded us that Worcester is truly the Faithful City – faithful in war, and faithful in peace – and that our heritage lives not just in books and museums but in our streets, our schools, and our communities.