OH no he didn’t. Oh yes, he did. Yes, you’ve guessed, last week I attended another pantomime. This time it was a performance of Goldilocks and the Three Bears put on by the Kays Theatre Group at the Swan.
It’s a regular event in the calendar for Kays to produce a panto and this was their 54th – the same age as me. Though all the participants are amateurs they really are every bit as good as professionals and I thought the dancers from the Harlequin Stage School were absolutely wonderful.
We were quite a noisy audience and none more so than the row behind me. When I glanced around I should have known – it was Dave Bradley, Mike George and their friends. Thanks to Chris and Sue Cassidy for inviting me and how good it was to meet Mayoress Clutterbuck (played by Sylvia Craddock) after the show when we compared our respective chains of office.
Occasionally the mayor is called upon to represent the city at a funeral and on Wednesday, sadly, I attended the funeral of the Mayoress of Kidderminster, Gloria Shellie. She died of cancer at St Richard’s Hospice. I had known her since last May, when her husband Mike became Mayor and she was a great support to him.
Just beforehand I had been with mothers and toddlers at the opening of the Bluebell Wood Children’s Centre in Ronkswood.
This is the third of what will be four centres in Worcester and very supportive of young parents they are too. I was shown around by the manager Claire Locker, and being a bit of a railway enthusiast, I was pleased to see some of the youngsters playing with a toy train set. I hope they maintain their interest and perhaps they’ll soon be running a Hornby train around their bedroom like I did.
Saturday saw Carol and I attending the Worcester Cathedral bellringers annual dinner at the cricket club. As regular readers will know I am doing my bit to ‘Get Worcester Ringing’ by having a new peal of bells put in Old St Martin’s and renovating the existing bells in St Nicholas at The Cross. It was a friendly and sociable occasion and thanks to everyone who organised it. My apologies for what was intended as a 10-minute speech lasting more like 20 but you know politicians, once they stand up, they can’t stop talking.
To round off the week we went to the Roses Theatre at Tewkesbury for their mayor’s charity concert. There was a real variety of stage acts but to be honest I thought the first one stole the show when 12 members of the local fire brigade, who had done so much to help in the summer floods, came on and danced the title number from Riverdance – dressed in full uniform, wellingtons and helmets.