WELL, another action-packed fortnight. As I mentioned in the last column, the Worcester Festival event entries are meant to be all in by now, but we are still taking them as I write, and we are up over 350, which is nearly 50 more than last year. It means the festival is still growing, and that has to be a healthy sign.

I cheered very loudly when London was awarded the Olympics in 2012 - my own pole vault career is on hold at the moment, but generally I am a big sports and athletics fan. Little did I realise that those same Olympics would now be causing the arts world huge concerns about their funding. Basically what is happening is that both lottery funding to the arts, and core funding to the arts from government is being gradually cut and that money being poured into the huge bottomless tank which is for paying for the Olympics. I might not have cheered so loudly if I'd known.

The Mayor, Ian Imray, and his wife Joan, have just finished their year of duty. They were both fantastic and did a wonderful job. A big thank you from Worcester Live for all your help.

CENTRE STAGEChris Jaeger of Worcester Live