Mayor of Worcester Blog

What a soggy autumn it was with record December rainfall and now floods in the city. A number of streets have been under water, dozens of homes seriously affected and some business and travel disruption. What a miserable way for many people to have to face the new year! It is hard to imagine how dreadful it has been for those who are rough sleeping in such harsh weather. Floods may be receding but now the weather is turning cold.

Thank goodness for the severe weather protocol (SWEP). In Worcestershire this is jointly run by organisations which support homeless people, including the City Council. SWEP is triggered if there is a risk of temperatures falling below freezing for one or more nights. It was activated for five nights over Christmas and again last weekend to make sure all homeless people had a safe and warm place to stay.

I am reminded of the phrase “think global, act local” – good advice even if its origins are disputed. The world can seem a scary place at the moment with climate changing, countries at war, populations moving and nature under threat. The links between these are complex and difficult to resolve. It can lead to a feeling of helplessness in the face of overwhelming challenges.

The key is to focus on what we can individually do in our daily lives, to live at peace with those around us and engage with our community. Let us celebrate the excellent work of local charities and their volunteers, including the Worcester Foodbank which helps those in crisis. Our community has to choose how to prioritise its resources. Politics matters at the national and local level and we can all play our part through the ballot box. So, let’s face the new year with confidence. Spring is around the corner and the snowdrops are coming out in the garden!

 

 

Before this year as Mayor, I had only a vague idea of what the role of Mayor of Worcester really entailed. Even in my year as deputy, I hadn’t really got a full insight to the day-to-day life representing our city. It isn’t until you fully start the role that you realise it is a full diary of events run by the well-oiled machine managed by the exceptional organisation of the civic office staff.

It’s quite funny how soon I became used to the weekly routine that is now a normal part of my life. On a Friday I am sent the diary for next week with details of each event, who to meet, do I wear the chain, where to park my bike etc. I then spend time finalising details with the office, researching businesses and charities I will visit and writing speeches when asked. It is fantastic that so many people want the Mayor to visit and I need to make sure I am prepared to give everyone the best of my time.

One of my favourite duties is to show groups around the Guildhall and Mayor’s parlour. Visitors, exchange students, local groups and charities all enjoy hearing the history and visiting parts that they can’t usually get to see, like the cells. The tour started off with the basics I had been told, but people on these tours have given me all sorts of snippets so that the tours have got longer and longer.

It’s such a privilege and honour to be in the role. It is also a great pleasure and I can honestly say that I am really loving it. I never cease to be amazed at the diversity of things going on in Worcester and by the hard work of so many volunteers and workers which makes Worcester such a great place to live.

 

I was recently asked by some university students “with all the geopolitical and environmental issues facing the world are you still optimistic?” Of course, the answer is yes. The world may have challenges and problems to overcome but right here in Worcester we live in an amazing place.

There are lots of reasons to be positive about our city. I am looking ahead to many events in 2024. In January I’ll be joining the Malayali community in their Christmas and new year celebrations at Nunnery Wood Sports Centre. There are quite a number of Malayali people originally coming from southern India that came here to work in places like Worcester Hospital.

In February we will see the colourful Chinese New Year celebrations held at the Royal Worcester Porcelain Museum and also the spectacular return of the city centre Light Festival organised by Severn Arts.

In March I’m organising a black-tie charity fashion show at the Guildhall along with local schools and Age UK. The fashion show will be upcycling items of donated clothing, it’s a fantastic opportunity for local students to show what they can do. I hope that it will develop their creative skills and boost their confidence whilst raising money to support local people living in and around the city.

In August, although I’ll no longer be Mayor by then I’m looking forward to the great Penguin Waddle organised by and in aid of St Richard’s Hospice.

New Year is a time to reflect a little on the year just gone and look ahead and think of the possibilities and opportunities ahead of us. I hope you had a good Christmas. I wish you a Happy New Year – let’s make it a good year!

 

In the lead up to Christmas the Mayoress and I have been delighted to be invited to carol services and Christmas concerts across the city. It has been a real insight on the rich variety of such events, from primary school nativities to the rather more formal “Nine lessons and carols”.

One such event is the Mayor’s Charity Christmas Concert in the Guildhall. This is such a delightful charity event, this year raising money for Age UK. I attended it for many years before I was Mayor and for me, it signals the start of festivities.

The Guildhall was so fortunate to have the Elgar Chorale providing the music. The quality, was as always, top notch with a good mix of well-known Christmas music and some I hadn’t heard before, including one written this year by their conductor, Piers Maxim. We were actively encouraged to sing along to the carols, which is rarely allowed at concerts and even allowed to sing the harmonies if we wanted!

The icing on the cake of this event is the amusing readings that punctuate the music. These were acted out hilariously for the audience and even included a letter written by Elgar to a friend at Christmas. I’d never realised he’d had such a sense of humour!

The audience was the largest we had seen for many years and there was a festive family atmosphere. Over £1000 was raised on the night for Age UK and it was great to have Hazel, chair of the local branch there to tell us more about the charity.

Of course, Christmas is not always easy for everyone and it’s a time of year that we really need to be aware of others perhaps going through a difficult time. Look out for neighbours and friends who might be struggling.

Well, I am signing off Mayoral duties for 2023 shortly and wish you all the season’s greetings.