Chairman’s Charity Magical Gala Evening

November 28th 6.30pm for 7.30pm
Pear Tree Hotel, Smite, Worcestershire

Pictures from The Pear Tree Hotel Website
http://www.thepeartree.co.uk/

All pictures below are by Kelvin Seaton, Crucial Image
http://www.crucialimage.org.uk/

Guests were greeted in the garden room, where a warming mulled wine was waiting. Photographer Kelvin Seaton from Crucial Image was also on hand to take individual photographs.The above picture shows Chairman of Gloucestershire County Council Gordon Shurman with his wife and consort.

Cllr and Mrs Allah Ditta

‘Chain Gang’ attendees

Chairman’s chaplain, Rev Caroline Homan, being amazed by magician Graham Kendall

A chat between courses

Then came my speech:-
Fellow Mayor’s and Chair’s and members of the chain gang, honoured Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen.
What do you think of it so far? ( Response – Rubbish!)
I do not intend to keep you long tonight, in fact a past Mayor of Evesham, once gave me good advice, about making speeches after dinner. Stand up, Speak up, shut up and make sure your flies are done up.
Organising this gala evening, would have been impossible without all the help and advice from literally dozens of people, and some are still working tonight. To name everyone would be impossible, but there are a few people and I would like to mention.
Karen and Mandy from Wychavon District Council have been amazingly supportive. Meetings in my office have been a bit like the Unipart advert. The answer is yes, …now what’s the question. Karen is so exhausted, with my demands, she has decided to go travelling…..!for 4 months and leaves for Thailand next Tuesday. Karen, have an exciting and relaxing time, and don’t worry, I‘ll have a list ready for you when you get back.
Karen’s last job is to sell ALL the raffle tickets we have left, so please help her out if you can.
I would like to thank the graphics and printing departments at Wychavon, who have done an amazing job. Every one of the items you have received, even the card tricks, have been produced in house.
Photographer, Kelvin Seaton from Crucial Image, Our magician, Graham Kendall, Facta 3, who will be entertaining you very soon, Legend Event Solutions who are running the casino, have all been really helpful and generous, so thank you to them and also to John and Frances Smith who will soon be moving among you with Wanchovy’s. Just £20 gets you 500 Wanchovy’s for the casino and the top 3 successful players will all win prizes, one of which is a hot air balloon flight. If you want more Wanchovy’s later, you can buy them from Mandy will be upstairs by the casino.
Every one of  prizes for the raffle, auction and casino have been donated, there are details of who gave what, on your tables so please take a minute or two to check that out.
I would like to thank all of you, for supporting this function. Without your generosity, none of this would be happening.
Every penny raised tonight will go straight to Droitwich Canals Trust, Evesham Shopmobility and Pershore Riverside Youth Centre.
Last but not least, I have to thank one other particular person. The other half of my team. Wendy, has been encouraging, has come up with ideas, put up with my anxiety, and helped in so many ways to make tonight special. Thank you very much.
For the moment, finally tonight from me, A toast. Please charge your glasses and be upstanding, the toast is ……..Wychavon.
Thank You.

 

And a bit more of Graham’s magic

Dancing to the wonderful FACTA3

Casino

 

Roulette

and blackjack

A good time was being had by all

Wendy and my final duty of the evening was to announce the winners in the raffle and auction 3 amazing items. A bowl of fruit presented by Vale Fresh went for £21, a bottle of finest ‘House of Lords’ whisky presented by T4 Cameras of Newbury, went for £50 and the star auction, a weeks holiday on a narrowboat, presented bt Black Prince Narrowboat Holidays went for an amazing £760

 

This is a very small flavour of a brilliant evening. More pictures and a full report will follow. In the meantime, click here to see all the pictures taken. Run slideshow for best results.
http://www.crucialimage.org.uk/?Action=_VC&id=43095250&ppwd=ks1036nc

Wychavon Parish Games Presentation Evening

November 24th 7.30pm
Drakes Broughton Village Hall, Walcot Lane, Drakes Broughton

The Hall. Picture from website
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=44322218649

Each year for the last 31, Sue Collins and a very dedicated committee, organise a range of activities aimed at bringing all the parishes of Wychavon together in sport and recreation. In 2008 and again this year I was asked to present the prizes, which I was delighted to do.

The results:-

WYCHAVON PARISH GAMES 2009

 WINNERS OF TROPHIES

 W M C R S Silver Salver - Champion Parish – Crowle  (entered 14 events)

 Mitchell & Butler Cup - Runners Up - Evesham Bengeworth (entered 12 events)

Group 4 Total Security Cup - Award of Merit - Wyre Piddle (entered 14 events ) 

Small Parishes Trophy - Wick (under 500 on electoral roll) (entered 11 events )

Richard Preece Memorial Trophy – Medium Parishes - Crowle (501-999 on electoral roll)  (entered 14 events )

WYCHAVON PARISH GAMES RESULTS 2009 ( Sorry about the formatting, best I could do )

	Ang	B/B	Bow	Crib	XC	LD	MD	Dom	5 Side	Pet	Poo	Ro	Ski	JTT	STT	Tot	Pl
Badsey/Ald	4	12	7½	0		0	1	13½	0		4½		10½	13½	10½	77	11
Bredon	0	2	16	10½	5	10½	4½	4½	14	12	1	11½	10½	10½	10½	123k	4
Bretforton	3	0	9	1	13	4½	16	16	0	0	16		1	0	0	79½	8
Broadway	0	8	13½	10½	9	4½	13½	10½		13	1		15	0	10½	109	5
Comberton G													1			1	35
Comberton L		6			7					0			10½			23½	25
Cropthorne	9												4½			13½	31=
Crowle	11	11	7½	13½	12	0	4½	15	15	16	4½	16	4½	10½	4½	145	1
D Broughton	5	4	12	13½	8	10½	15	4½	8		13½	13½	13½	0	4½	125½	3
Droitwich C		9		15				4½	0				1		15	44½	16
Droitwich S															4½	4½	34
Eckington	10	16	13½	0		0	0	4½	13		4½	11½	1	13½	0	87½	7
Elmley Castle					11									13½	4½	29	24
Eve Ben	15		0	16	6	13½	10½	10½	0	10	10½	15	4½	16	13½	140	2
Eve GH	16		0	1			1	4½	10		4½		0			37	18
Eve LH	13			4½											16	33½	23
Eve North	8				15	15				14	13½		13½		0	79	9
Eve South					16											16	29
Fladbury	0	15			14						10½					39½	17
Harvington				10½			4½				0		16		4½	35½	19
Hinton/AS				1		10½	0	4½			1		1			18	27
Honeybourne			15				10½		9		0			0	0	34½	21
Inkberrow	0	5	0	10½		0	13½	1	16	11	1		4½		0	62½	12
Littleton, N/M			0	4½		4½	0	0			15		4½	10½	13½	52½	14=
Littleton, Sth														15	4½	19½	26
Lower Moor		10				13½	10½				0					34	22
N/Lenchwick										0						0	36
Offenham	7						10½				0					17½	28
Pebworth				4½		10½	4½		11		0		4½			35	20
Peopleton	14		6	4½	0	10½	1		12	0			4½			52½	14=
Pershore HC	0	1½		0			0	4½			0		1			7	33
Pershore SA	12	1½		0			0	0			0		0			13½	31=
Sedgeberrow	0		10	4½	0	16		13½					10½			54½	13
Upton Snods		14												0		14	30
Wick	6	7	5	4½	4		4½	10½		15	10½		1		10½	78½	10
Wyre Piddle	0	13	11	1	10	4½	4½	10½	7	9	1	13½	4½	10½	4½	104½	6

Key to above table

Angling – Ang                                                                                     
Bell Boating – B/B                                                                              
Bowls – Bow                                                                                                           
Crib – Crib                                                                                                 
Cross Country – XC                                                                           
Darts (Ladies) – LD                                                                            
Darts (Men – MD                                                                               
Dominoes – Dom                                                                                      
Five-a-Side – 5 Side                                                                          
Petanque – Pet                                                                                  
Pool – Poo                                                                                          
Rounders – Ro                                                                                   
Skittles – Ski                                                                                               
Table Tennis (Junior) – JTT                                                               
Table Tennis (Senior) – STT

 Pictures to follow

Princess Royal Visits Wychavon

Tuesday November 17th 10.00am
Sixways stadium, Worcester Rugby Club, Worcester

The day started for us at 10.00am, with Les our chauffeur, arriving to collect us in good time for the journey to Sixways.  On arrival coffee was served and the official party waited for 11.20am. Exactly on time, a helicopter carrying HRH and party came into view and landed on a nearby practice pitch. At 11.25am, having been collected by car from the helicopter, Princess Anne arrived at the stadium. Mr Michael Brinton, Her Majesty’s Lord Lieutenant of Worcestershire, introduced her first to, Cllr John Cairns, Chairman of Worcestershire County Council and his consort Mary, then me, followed by Wendy. Others being formally introduced were WDC managing director Jack Hegarty and his wife Kathryn, The Bishop of Worcester, The Rt Revd Dr. John Inge, Paul West, West Mercia chief constable and Chairman of Worcester Warriors Mr Cecil Duckworth. The Princess then went inside the splendid new building and stand and met with players and senior staff. Moving upstairs to the main events room, the princess was introduced to many local and national charity organisations, before the main opening ceremony.

The new stand

HRH arrives on time, exactly at 11.25am

A memorable moment.

Princess Anne shares a joke with the chief constable

Introductions continue inside the building

The atmosphere is relaxed, as Princess Anne chats to charity fundraisers

Outside on the pitch, the youth teams play an exhibition match

Mr Cecil Duckworth, chairman Worcester Warriors welcomes The Princess Royal and thanks her for giving her time to come and open the stand

and HRH says a few words before performing the official curtain pull.

Finally, a rugby ball signed by all the team, is presented by team Captain Pat Sanderson to Princess Anne. The ball will be auctioned for charity at some date in the future

A very memorable and exciting day.

 

 

Worcestershire Federation of Young Farmers Clubs – Annual General Meeting

November 5th 7.30pm
Shires Farm, Hawford, Worcester

Thought that might get your attention!

The pictures Mr and Miss January above, were taken from the 2010 calendar and features some of their very brave members. The calendar is in aid of  The County Air Ambulance. Copies are fantastic value at just £5 and can obtained from Cutnall Green Young Farmers Club. Pictures by Lucy Hurst.

Now back to the AGM
During my year in office, I have been invited to a lot of AGM’s. This one was easily the most well organised and supported I have ever been to. It was also extremely interesting and a great deal of fun. As well as all the general business of officer election, there were a number of speeches about the year just gone and a very large number of awards and presentations. A really enjoyable night.

Outgoing Chairman Katie Brian, says goodbye.

www.worcsyfc.org.uk

 

Evesham Sea Cadets Inspection Evening and Presentation of Awards

November 2nd 7.30pm
It is always a pleasure to present awards to our young people and this night was a particular pleasure because of the recipients. All young sea cadets, who have achieved great things in their young lives. I was taking part most of the evening, either inspecting the guard and cadets or presenting awards, so many of these pictures have been taken by Michelle Ludlow. Many thanks Michelle.

CPO Keith Field, who officiated for the night with Wendy and the excellent buffet, prepared and served by the cadets.

During the evening a number of team building games were played. Each cadet was given a secret animal name and the game involved getting all the animals in height order. Easy enough, until it was discovered that all were blindfold and the only way to identify each other, was by animal sound! Boys played girls and the girls won by a mile. Better luck next time chap’s.

All good fun, but what’s this? Oh, it’s going to be played again, and who this time? My chain is like a magnet for being included in all sorts!

those ‘volunteering’ were given their animal names

and with much animal noise from us and huge laughter from the audience, the game began

eventually we got  into an order of sorts

and then we had to prove the animals we were. Cllr John Smith OBE, who is Evesham Sea Cadet President, doing a very fine impression of a pig.

by far the best impression, me as a stallion!

I presented a large number of awards during the evening. This is Leading cadet, Josh Karlinski, collecting his Bronze and Silver Wings Aviation badges.

Brilliant night, well done to all award winners and thank you for a fun filled and enjoyable evening.

 

Official Opening of the Atherton Unit – HMP Long Lartin

September 30th 12.20pm

Security was extremely tight at the prison, as was expected. everybody attending the opening was searched and checked. Photographs, or indeed cameras ands varies other electronic devises, were not allowed, so we only have a couple of pictures taken outside, before going in. There was a short reception and coffee before all were escorted to wing’s E&F for speeches and thanks. Peter Atherton, former Deputy Director General of The Prison Service and a previous Governor of Long Lartin, spoke interestingly of his career and then pulled a cord to unveil the brass plaque, detailing the opening. We were then taken on a tour of then wings and introduced to some of the prisoners, who were very keen to show us their cells and talk candidly about the prison. This was followed by a finger buffet lunch, in the chapel. Those prisoners who we had been on the wing with also cam,e to lunch. Quote of the day, from one of them “That’s Stilton, cor, I aint ad stilton for 8 years”! Kind of brings the loss of liberty home.
I have been to Long  Lartin Prison before and while the surroundings are pleasant enough, it is not a place anyone would choose to go. I have a personal view that visits to prison should be part of the national curriculum. I am sure if you showed young people where they could end up if they did wrong, it would make them think twice about offending in the first place.

An interesting day but I was very glad when the visit ended and we could go home. Unlike over 600 others, who call Long Latin home!

 

Croome Court Official Opening – September 25th

September 25th was a busy day – Function Three 3.00pm
Opening of Croome Court and a celebration of volunteers Work.
Only part of the Croome Court park is in Wychavon. It is in part of Eckington ward.

View of the house from near the main entrance.

St Mary Magdalene Church: This Grade I listed building was built in 1763 by Capability Brown for the Earl of Coventry. A medieval church was demolished to make way for this church, the interior of which was designed by Robert Adam.

Croome Court is a landscaped country park surrounding Croome Court, near Besford in Worcestershire. It was Capability Brown|Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown’s first complete landscape design begun in 1751 for George Coventry, 6th Earl of Coventry.  The mansion house was also designed by Brown and is a rare example of his architectural work.
Given the overwhelming predominance of Brown’s aesthetic in the 18th and 19th centuries, Croome Park has often been described as the single most influential landscape in Europe. Robert Adam and James Wyatt designed temples and follies for the park and surrounding estate.
In 1996 670 acres of the park were acquired by the National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty|National Trust, which has undertaken an ambitious restoration.
Croome landscape park is made up of many different buildings, the Court being the central focus. Named “eyecatchers”, these buildings are set high on ridges seen from near the court such as Pirton Castle, The Panorama Tower and Dunstall Castle.
In November 2007, Croome Court was bought from the private owner by The Croome Heritage Trust which will manage the property along with the National Trust.

There is masses of information about the Park and court here:-
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Croome_Park

We were greeted on arrival by Hare Krishnas and music in celebration of their occupation several decades ago.

The back of the house where the ceremony took place

Turn round 180 degrees and this is the view across the park

Speeches on the steps from Jane Farrington (Chair, National Trust West Midlands Regional Committee) and Dr Eric H Jones ( Chair of the Friends of Croome Park)

And the music played on

Once the doors were open we were allowed to view the early work and look at the magnificent rooms.

Early ‘excercise equipment’

Information boards adorn the walls

and the rooms

and audio boxes giving all sorts of interesting facts and figures

 Family tree

Another of the magnificent rooms and ceilings.

With  much regret at this point we had to leave. Time was against us today and we had to move onto our forth function of the day. We will certainly return.

Vale Golf Club Open Day

September 15th 12 noon
The Vale golf  and Country club, Bishampton, Nr Pershore, Worcestershire

The Vale, as it is known locally, is in new ownership and the new owners have invested  heavily on upgrading te facilities. The club has two courses, 9 and an 18 hole championship course.

The clubhouse

Views from the clubhouse function suite

The function suite holds up to 140 people

The main ’spike’ bar

An excellent venue for business, pleasure or both.

Call Alex Newman on 01386 462781

Cookhill Village Fete

September 5th 2.00pm
Cookhill Village Hall

It was my pleasure to be invited to open the village fete. This what I said in my opening remarks:-

Good afternoon everyone,

It is a great pleasure for Wendy and me to be here. When I became Chairman in May, it was my desire to visit all the Wychavon wards during the 12 months of my chairmanship and this invitation is a result of that request. What is lovely for me is to see real people doing real and meaningful things for the benefit of the community. Now, when the chairman gets an invitation an information form is sent out this gives the chairman some background information about the place he is visiting. The form in this case came back and I am going to read what it says, because it talks about one rather special person within this community.

Quote ‘Cookhill is a very vibrant village and the village hall is the centre of all it’s activities. Eileen Payne is the hub of allthe events that take place (and these are many) and she works tirelessly to keep the village hall up to scratch. It has just paid off a £20,000 debt which Wychavon imposed to bring the sewerage system up to date and so today’s event will help to swell the coffers for the next project that Eileen Payne will surely have in mind’ unquote.

If only we had an Eileen Payne in every village.

Congratulations to her and to all who have contributed to today’s fete. I know how much work goes into organising these events. To those attending, spend far more money than you intended, support Cookhill and above all, have fun.

Eileen Payne and husband on the bottle tombola (a prize every time) and Wendy and I did rather well

A very well supported event.

lots to do outside as well

Well done all.

Air Ambulance Open Day

September 5th 10.30am
Strensham Service’s M5 North

The air ambulance do a marvelous job in the medical emergency world. Each year the service costs £5.6 million pounds to run the organisation, which is done entirely from public donation.
http://www.countyairambulancetrust.co.uk/

TV personality Nick Owen performs the opening ceremony

The other emergency services are here as well.

There are many fund raising stalls, including raffle, tombola, tea, coffee, cakes and even a pig roast. Also helicopters from private individuals are here.