Another week of varied and enjoyable duties and just about dodging all these heavy showers!
On Monday I went to the annual meeting of Home-Start Worcester and Wychavon, managed by Margaret Jones.
This is a voluntary organisation offering support, friendship and practical help to young families under stress in their own homes, helping to prevent family crisis and breakdown. It is part of Home-Start UK and should not be confused with another home start service run by the RAC!
On Wednesday I spent some time with the Worcestershire Association of Carers at their Time Out Tasters exhibition at the Fairfield Centre in Warndon.
There are about six million carers in the UK, equivalent to one in eight adults. It is a demanding and stressful job and often causes isolation. The aim of the day was to encourage carers to take time out for themselves and take up a hobby or interest so that they can recharge their batteries. Thanks to Elizabeth Lloyd and her team who do such a great job.
Also on Wednesday I went along to Manor Park School’s awards evening hosted by Richard Bird.
They have some great students who have overcome difficulties of many kinds. Good luck, especially to the eight students who are moving on to new places of study and training.
On Friday Yamazaki Mazak celebrated being in Worcester for exactly 20 years.
Over lunch I was privileged to sit next to Peter Walker, who had opened the factory in 1987, and the Japanese Ambassador to the UK.
With its leading edge technology in producing machine tools, Mazak has an incredible operation at Warndon. We need more businesses like that in Worcester.
In the evening Carol and I were delighted to join Worcester Severn Rotary Club to celebrate their 25th Charter Anniversary.
Quite a high proportion of the original members have remained in the club and there is a great camaraderie among them all.
On Saturday afternoon I greeted about 20 people involved in the March of the Abolitionists, which commemorates the 200th anniversary of the abolition of slavery.
Worcester was a staging post on their walk from London to Liverpool via Bristol and some of them symbolically walked in chains.
On Sunday we watched under-8s and under-12s who were taking part in a county football tournament at Perdiswell sponsored by Sport England and McDonald’s.
Thanks to all their parents and coaches who give so much support.
Finally, a pleasant way to end the week was to be invited to join the volunteers at St Richard’s Hospice for afternoon tea, at which their long-serving chairman Jeanie Young was presented with some well-earned retirement gifts.