Mayor of Worcester

Two new words to add to the phrasebook this week: 美  (měilì) and wunderschön, Chinese and German respectively, both meaning  ‘beautiful’ – and both referring to our fabulous City.   But first to business – or more aptly, busy-ness.

Much of the role of Mayor is concerned with raising funds for good causes, and the first to respond to my appeal to Worcester’s four major banks was HSBC’s Andy Leonard, a man with bright ideas.

Then on to the source of the first of my new words:  a tour of the Guildhall for sixteen teachers from Zhengzhou in China, here on a fact-finding mission with the University.

Sad news tempered by some happier news surrounds one of my pet organisations this week: the Rotary Club, a real fundraising giant.  My own club, Worcester South, has had to fold after 51 years due to the age of many of its members.  On the brighter side, Richard Rogers, whose inauguration as President of Worcester Rotary I attended on Monday, has welcomed many back as new members.

Then the first of several amazing events involving children: co-judging the Rotary Club ‘Junior Youth Speaks’ competition at St Barnabas School.  Illuminating!  Later the same day, off to St James Church in Welland for the Malvern Singers’ hugely uplifting summer concert ‘Life is a Song’.  I also handed over a cheque for £1,000 to the Help for Heroes charity.

On Friday an unusual occurrence – no engagements!  Except that I managed to squeeze in a wedding in Birmingham, a conference for Midlands councillors and a visit to Stanley Road School for its Starfest Big Art exhibition.

Nor will I ever cease to be amazed by the gifted children of Worcester’s New College, whose Celebration Day concert left me utterly lost for words.

Other highlight events this week were: Hidden Histories at the Hive; Chapter 8 Choir’s exquisite concert in the cathedral Chapter House in aid of Maggs Day Centre; a meeting with Alan Amos and Keith Slater about a Lottery grant for Regenerating Communities; a tour of the Guildhall for sixteen students from Principia School of Language in Stuttgart, guests of Blessed Edward Oldcorne RC College.  Wünderbar!

 

 

Now, if you’re thinking that being Worcester’s Mayor must be a privileged doddle, then reflect on this.  I’m six weeks in and have already completed more than a hundred official engagements.  There were twenty this week alone, not a one of which found me wishing that I was somewhere else!

Events on Wednesday included the unveiling of St Richard’s Hospice Legacy Bench outside the Guildhall (you can’t miss it, it’s a beautiful shade of blue); a fruitful meeting with Tomasz Wisniewski of the Worcestershire Polish Association and then on to The Cavalier in Kidderminster for the Mayor’s Charity Darts Tournament. You’d have been proud of me: I played a grand first round, but was out-thrown by the eventual winner, Peter Tomlinson – County Council chairman!

The next day I was honoured to relive ex-mayor Liz Smith’s memories of the Parlour and Guildhall with her family.  This was followed by the RGS Commemoration Service at the Cathedral before a dash over the river for the University’s Worcestershire Education Awards.

An update on the activities of my four charities – St. Richard’s Hospice, Worcester Wheels, Headway and the Cathedral – accounted for much of Friday morning.  Afterwards I went to a delightful coffee morning at Lyppard Hub’s Great Get Together event – proof that community spirit is alive and well. I was enchanted, too, by the work of children at Stanley Road Primary School, whose Spiritual Garden is wonderful.

On Saturday I witnessed the Rotary Club Board March and a gorgeous performance of Aladdin by All Sorts of Performing Arts at Medway Community Centre. Sunday saw me enjoying the Elgar Chorale’s Summer Serenade at St George’s Church.

Monday was a proud day; I was honoured to speak at the Armed Forces Flag Raising ceremony at the Guildhall.

In the afternoon I was a guest at a rather unusual ceremony:  the unveiling of the Samaritans Crossroads telephone box at Powick.

The next day I met students from the Heart of Worcestershire College, greeted new City Council employees and watched The Grange’s Year 6 production of Peter Pan.

Phew… made it!  Amazing.  Quota complete.

How to sum-up the week?  Chains and brains…

Where I go, the mayor’s historic chain of office goes too.  First, as a Senior VP of South Worcestershire, I visited the home of Rotary fundraising mastermind David Scott. Then I found myself in the company of leading physicists and educationalists for Professor Gary McCullough’s inaugural lecture at the University.  Sadly I had to leave early in order to make my third appointment of the day – a musical event in Birmingham, attended by a number of mayors.

More chains were on display the next day too, when I was honoured to be among 300 guests at Worcestershire High Sheriff Edward Holloway’s ‘At Home’ event at Lower Court, Suckley. Fundraising for good causes doesn’t just happen:  it needs brain power and planning, and his Charitable Fund is one of the most ambitious.

Worcester’s 150 year-old chain was once more proudly worn for the English Association of Male Voice Choirs’ annual concert in the Cathedral and, I have to say, its sheer weight kept my feet on the ground – such was the powerful impact of 200 soaring voices and three hours of magical musical enchantment.

Sunday saw a chain of a different type:  a BMW superbike handed over to the blood transfusion service by the Provincial Grand Lodge of Master Masons, at the Prescott Bike Festival.  The mayoral chain was once again brought out of its box for the 75th anniversary of D-Day in Worcester Cathedral.  There were lots of chains on show but where, oh where, was the public?  Lessons to be learned here about the power of publicity, I’m thinking.

In between all this, I received a 4.00am call with the painful news of the loss of a very good friend, Mohammed Walayat.

The week ended with a visit to Akina Homecare to celebrate its top CQC rating in the whole of UK; and presentation of an £8,000 cheque from the City Council to Footsteps –a local charity which provides support to bereaved families.

And still I found time to celebrate Fathers’ Day with my six children and 12 grandchildren.  Now that took brains!

Not many days go by when I’m not left completely staggered and lost for words by the wonderful people of this city – the rising generation of children in particular. Two events this week underlined this in spectacular style…

A visit to Carnforth School on Thursday left me touched and not a little humbled by some very special children.  The garden which they’ve created and tend with such loving care is a lesson to us all.

And then on Monday, I met with gifted 5 to 14 year-olds from all over the county, who are being fast-tracked to a glittering future by Worcester Children’s University.  At that age, to give up more than 100 hours of otherwise ‘me-time’ in addition to normal school activities is an impressive investment for a child to make:  The Graduation Ceremony at Worcester Arena was a clear indicator that the future may not be so bleak after all!

Sandwiched in between these events was a fruitful discussion with the local Royal British Legion about ways to make Armed Forces Day even more memorable this year.  It’s too easy to forget the debt we owe our ex-servicemen and the recent 75th anniversary of D-Day gave the discussion added drive and determination.

On Friday, I again felt humility and respect – on this occasion for the uncounted thousands of volunteers that so selflessly give up their time for others.  The event was the opening of the Worcester Volunteer Expo at the Guildhall, where around 40 charities and local organisations were looking to recruit more volunteers.

More wondrous Worcestershire wit was on show for the launch of the ninth Worcestershire Literary Festival and Fringe last weekend.

It’s also been a week of travel with my mayoral chain, as I represented Worcester at two mayor-making events:  Nazim Choudary at Northampton – its 779th mayor who’s touchingly chosen his mother as consort for the year, bless – and Ken Henderson in his third term as mayor of Stourport-on-Severn.

Unfortunately, sadness has clouded some of the joy of this week’s otherwise inspiring calendar: the passing of a very dear friend and fellow councillor at the tragically early age of 60.  I’m going to miss Stuart Denlegh-Maxwell, and Worcester is all the poorer for this loss.