Mayor of Worcester

Last Friday, I hosted my Charity Auction at The Guildhall. Around fifty people turned up and were treated to a superb performance by Sass Capella,  six sassy ladies who sing in harmony. This was followed by the auction and over twenty lots attracted enthusiastic bidding. Over £2,300 was raised for my charities and will pay for disadvantaged city children to go on adventure breaks and support the air ambulance. A massive thank you to my auctioneer David Stuart-Smith, to  everyone who donated items for sale, Guildhall staff and volunteers who served food and drinks, to Sass Capella and everyone who came.

On Tuesday, we made a flying visit to Sight Concern’s AGM and Supporters’ Event. This charity provides superb support and advice to local people with limited vision and is helped by a large number of volunteers.

Later, we attended the first LGBT+ History Month celebration at the Horn and Trumpet. There were interesting displays and I was fascinated to be reminded how the law has changed during my lifetime and that more tolerance has helped to make many lives much happier.

On Thursday, we were pleased to attend the opening of the University of Worcester’s new Language Centre.

I also welcomed to the Parlour members of the Albany Fellowship, a social group based at the United Reformed Church in Albany Terrace which I regularly attend. It was good to share afternoon tea and chat about being Mayor to my friends.

The Royal Life Saving Society recently relocated to a new office in London Road, Worcester. The Mayoress and I were pleased to attend the launch event. We watched a demonstration of the life-saving skills they had taught when we opened the new swimming pool in January, and it was good to see them settled in their new home.

On 17 February 1892 the Worcester Operatic and Dramatic Society was launched in the Star Hotel in Foregate Street, now known as the White House Hotel. WODS celebrated its 125th anniversary at the same hotel on 17 February 2017 with a dinner dance.

I was delighted to address this event and to recognise the enormous social value which WODS has created in Worcester over so many years. WODYS is the youth section of WODS. Young people have learnt the performing arts, gaining confidence through the experience of being involved in WODYS. I have attended a number of their performances at the Swan Theatre which have been very professionally produced and extremely enjoyable. There is no doubt that Worcester would be a much duller place to live without the entertainment which organisations like WODS and WODYS provide for the benefit of our residents.

The heritage of our city has been celebrated all this week at events which are part of the Love Worcester Festival. On Saturday we visited the Commandery, where hundreds of re-enactors performed historic rolls which brought to life Worcester’s past. I enjoyed a beer served from a 1940s replica bar and was photographed wearing a Napoleonic soldier’s helmet – such fun!

On Sunday we were invited to lunch at Dancox House, home of 214 Battery in Pheasant Street. This was a fundraising event for ABF, The Soldiers’ Charity, which does so much good for soldiers and their families who need help.

On Monday morning we attended the funeral of a long serving employee of the City Council. Jenny-Anne Bowley tragically lost her fight against cancer all too soon and her smile and love of life will be sadly missed.

Later we opened the city’s latest fish and chip shop, the Newtown Fryer. I was served the first meal and it was delicious!

Forty high school students from our German twin town Kleve descended on The Guildhall on Thursday. I always enjoy showing off our grade 1 listed building and describing a little of its history. The German flag was flown in their honour. It is good to keep these links alive, especially during the uncertainty following last year’s referendum. German teachers told me they were sad that the UK was to leave the EU.

On Monday, auctioneer David Stuart-Smith from Andrew Grant visited to discuss my Charity Auction. This is shaping up to be an exciting and fun evening in The Guildhall on Friday 24th February. Following food, drink and music by six sassy ladies known as Sass Capella, over twenty lots will be auctioned. If you’re after a bargain day of rugby or cricket, a family short break, a year’s family entry to Slimbridge, a slap-up restaurant meal or a unique original painting or sculpture, this is the event for you! Tickets are available from the Tourist Information Centre at Guildhall, or online from EventBrite.

I launched the Love Worcester Heritage Festival on Tuesday. This runs from 18th to 26th February and offers free and fascinating half-term activities for the whole family. This festival promises to be the best ever and you can find more at http://www.visitworcestershire.org/worcester/Love-Worcester.aspx

On Wednesday, twenty wonderful members of Deaf Direct took my Guildhall Tour. A sign language interpreter ensured that they could both understand my words and ask questions. We also visited the Tolly Community Centre in my Rainbow Hill ward to watch young magicians show off their skills. Fifteen children had been taught to perform magic on a three-week course run by Miraculous Magic. I learned that this had greatly increased their confidence, whilst having a lot of fun. I love supporting ideas which enrich the lives of children from disadvantaged areas. No community should be left behind!

This week began with a visit to the new B&M store in Bath Road, to cut a ribbon and allow the first customers to tour the premises. The store’s manager, Andrew Bradley, escorted us round this new facility, which offers well known brands of a very wide variety of household items at low prices.

Andrew generously donated a valuable item which will be auctioned, with many other items, for my charities on Friday 24 February in the Guildhall.

On Sunday, we were guests of the Worcestershire Chinese Association at The Guildhall. The Association’s chairman, Mr Frankie Tsang, hosted the spectacular celebration of the Chinese New Year. We are now in the Year of the Rooster, the creature said to be the epitome of fidelity and punctuality. We were entertained by firecrackers and an amazing lion dance in front of the building, followed by martial arts, salsa dancing and magic. This was a wonderful free event for all who came, helping us to celebrate the diverse cultures which enrich our city.

A very special and infrequent event took place in The Guildhall on Tuesday. France’s highest military honour, the Légion d’Honneur, was awarded by the French Consul to war veteran Thomas Bridgewater, who landed on the Normandy beaches during the Second World War and helped liberate the French from occupation. This military award was only for French citizens until President Hollande decided that foreign service men and women who helped France could also be eligible. It was good to see so many of Tom’s friends and family in our Guildhall to celebrate this great occasion.

I was delighted to meet Colin Day in the Parlour on Wednesday. Colin was born in a house at the end of Perdiswell Street, and the street sign was on the outside wall near his bedroom window. It was replaced recently. Colin asked the City Council whether he could have the old sign, and I was pleased to present it to him.