Mayor of Worcester

It was good to see the University graduates able to mark and celebrate their academic successes at the right time of year again last week. A little blown and blustered by the weather maybe but I hope your friends and families enjoyed their visit to our great City too.

I met some really interesting young graduates at the Annual Dinner, keen to make their mark on the world. And it reminded me that with regret I had had to miss the Heart of Worcestershire’s college graduation events earlier in September due to mourning protocol. Nonetheless, Worcester is blessed with a host of talented young people – whether the Mayor turns up or not! Well done all of you.

I am not sure many of those students will get the next link but what do you get if you cross a yellow robot with a thing with long trailing tentacles on water? Yep, a jellyfishbot of course. Designed to clean up detritus, leaves, oil spillage and general rubbish floating on or just below the surface of our waterways, this machine made its Worcester debut this week in Diglis Marina.

In the week of COP27 – how many COPS do we need to have before something happens? – this is a pertinent reminder that we can protect the environment from the bottom up. Apart from the size, shape and the fact it floats on the water, it reminded me of the Yellow Submarine. A bit. It’s yellow.

It is however, a great technological asset to keeping canals and rivers clean, encouraging marine life, and making our environment look its best. Well done to the winner of the poster painting competition as well, though I fear your entry was a little damp as I plucked it from the water.

Thanks to Café Afloat for the coffee by the way!

This week has been a little less busy than the last, a time for pausing and reflecting on what is now nearly six months of mayordom. Quite a bit has happened since May, we were reflecting at this week’s Twinning Association Tea Party.

In many ways though, it is not the comings and goings of monarchs and politicians that seems most significant, but the opening up of events and places. The desire to go to something, to be with people. The slow but sure return to embracing things to do, people to see.

Of course, Covid is not over, it has not gone away and there are other things out there as well. And more vulnerable people continue to take care – but they are now, unfortunately, more obvious amongst the wider population than before. Let us continue to respect their space and to be careful with ours.

This mood was seen this week at the Launch of the Poppy Campaign by the Royal British Legion at the Guildhall, and at the annual Service of Commemoration at Gheluvelt Park, in memory of the men of the Worcestershire Regiment in October 1914. This year will see the RBL continuing to raise money for its causes, around the care and welfare of veterans and their families of all ages and conflicts, many of whom are in groups particularly affected by the cost of living crisis.

The desire to congregate and mix was also seen during the Rising Festival, a project part of the Arches Festivals, focussed on young (18-30) people. What an event they made of it! Enthusiasm, business acumen, creative talent, sharing. Owned and organised by young people in the Rising Voice themselves. Hopefully only the start of activities which carry on and bring vibrancy and something different to Worcester’s cultural heritage.

Madness! Risking ancient stonework and stained glass with a drumming class at the Eco Festival but the Cathedral is still safe and one of many groups advocating for climate awareness. After learning about trees and seeds and fox poo, we went to a charity lunch at Worcester Wanderers for the game against Hereford. Thanks to everyone who donated to the Mayor’s Charities and great to see some older mates there, and also at Droitwich Civic Service where some old friends from the Salvation Army Band played in the Bandstand.

Back to Madness and the WODS Our House night. Fabulous production, singing and dancing. Well done again! But if some of your feet are getting a bit tired, I opened Nicola Shearman’s new podiatry clinic mid-week. A local business emphasising that healthy feet, like your eyes and your teeth, are fundamental to a healthy body and lifestyle.

Teaming up with the Archaeological Society, over 70 people attended a lecture about the building of the Guildhall, crucially, in the Guildhall. Fascinating history of a building unique in the UK. We must shout about it more!

I was pleased to be able to attend the funeral of Godfrey Harvey and join a packed Service of Thanks. His contribution to a range of activities in Worcester is well-documented but I knew him largely for around 20 years with the Tourism Association.

Testing out my own feet, I wandered round the Virtual Time Trail, highlighting buildings and memories of Worcester through projections of photographs and film, and stories from Worcester folk. Using technology and imagination to engage everyone and give a free heritage show was great, part of the Know Your Place project. This was the sort of thing Godfrey would have loved, championing the city, celebrating its history, and getting people out and about enjoying themselves.