Mayor of Worcester

The Showmen’s Guild is the organisation which runs funfairs around the UK, including those which come to Worcester. Tommy Wilson operates the fair at the Cornmarket during the Victorian Christmas Market. We were delighted to be invited to their Midlands annual lunch last week and to share a table with Tommy so that I could thank him personally for his generous donation to my Mayor’s Charity Fund.

On Saturday teams from thirteen local schools had stalls in our High Street, selling a wide variety of goods. They were competing for prizes in the young enterprise competition which enables young people to learn skills needed to run successful businesses. I visited all the stalls and chatted to very enthusiastic young people who had clearly gained a great deal from this experience.  Four business people judged the competition, which must have been a difficult job. Congratulations to all the winners.

Worcester Male Voice Choir invited us to their annual Awards lunch. I was delighted to present certificates to a number of long serving members of this wonderful choir and we were repaid with some excellent musical entertainment.

Our overseas visitors this week included French exchange students invited by Worcester Sixth Form College and the vice chancellor of the University of Minnesota Duluth, invited by our own University. I always enjoy showing off The Guildhall and doing my best to raise Worcester’s profile on the international map.

Winners of the Fairtrade Fortnight poster competition arrived in the Parlour on Wednesday, and I awarded prizes to the overall winners.

On Thursday I met Dr David Webster who is giving a talk entitled Blood and Mud – a Bush Doctor Remembers, which will focus on time he spent in Uganda. This event will take place on 18th April to raise funds for my mayoral charities – it promises to be a fascinating evening!

 

 

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!