Last week started with a definite American theme. First, on Monday, I had a visit from Jaime Flores, from Worcester, Massachusetts.
He is a journalist and works for one of their local newspapers and also for local radio and TV.
I was pleased that the city of Worcester warranted a personal visit and he spent more than two hours with me at the Guildhall asking about everything and everybody here so he could get an overall view and make comparisons with his home city.
He came with a colleague who filmed the entire proceedings so I’m hopeful that Worcester (US) citizens will feel they know us and want to pay us a visit.
Then on Tuesday I had Sian Ellis, a British journalist, come to interview me as part of a full day’s programme of her visiting Worcester’s heritage and tourist spots. She was preparing an article for British Heritage a magazine sold widely in the US and, as its name suggests, it is aimed at those who have an interest in the history, heritage and culture of Britain.
It will be published in the summer, so again I am hoping it will encourage visitors from across the pond to pay us a visit and appreciate what the city has to offer. That should help many local businesses.
On Thursday, the Mayor of Droitwich invited me to the pantomime Dick Whittington at the Norbury Theatre.
It has its mayoral connections, of course, as the Lord Mayor of London plays a leading part.
As with all pantomimes, there is every encouragement given to the audience to participate and, as it was the opening night with a full house, we did just that!
Finally this week I had a chance to go up the bell tower of St Nicholas Church on the Cross.
As many will know, the church itself has been converted into a pub/restaurant but the bells, which have not rung since before the Second World War, are still hanging there and capable of being rung again.
Making Worcester a ‘City of Bells’ is one of my themes this year so I was very keen to venture up the tower.
Climbing up all the stairs and narrow spiral staircase is not for the faint hearted or infirm but the view along the High Street and Foregate Street is excellent.
I’m hoping that it won’t be long before the bells can be rung once again.
So, with St Swithun’s close by, old St Martin’s in the Cornmarket (where I hope a new set of bells can soon be cast), All Saints in Deansway plus St John’s and the cathedral, we might achieve my aim.
What a sound that would be and wouldn’t all those American tourists just love it, let alone all of us in Worcester!