Coun Doug Hine, Outgoing Mayor of Kidderminster, writes for the Standard.
IT IS pleasing to have emerged from a wet winter into a drier and sunnier spring.
The streets are alive with garden maintenance and home spring cleaning.
Many schools, Scout and Guide groups collected litter in the ‘Great British Spring Clean’ in March and I thank them for their efforts in restoring pride to our town and taking responsibility for the local environment.
As the seasons change, so do your Mayor and Mayoress.
By the time you read this, I will have completed my one-year term (where did the time go?) and we welcome new Mayor of Kidderminster, Coun Shazu Miah and his lady Mayoress Farjana Khan.
I wish them all the best and hope they find their term as rewarding as I have mine.
In April, the Lady Mayoress and I enjoyed a talk hosted by the local Wildlife Trust group by Ashley Grove, on ‘Great British Birds’.
It was packed with great images and audio of birdsong of many of the various birds in Britain, as well as a few photos from Ashley’s trips abroad – Gambia, Sweden, Sri Lanka.
Ashley reminded us the natural world is a great indicator of Climate Change – some species are becoming rarer (such as higher-altitude and cool climate species), while others which are adapted to warmer climates, are becoming more prevalent and widespread here.
The Wyre Forest local group of the Worcestershire Wildlife Trust have monthly talks which are open to all for a £3 admission fee.
There are also monthly walks in attractive natural local areas.
The High Sheriff of Worcestershire visited on March 25.
We visited a few local charities to show our support – the Kidderminster Foodbank, H.E.L.P., and Spokes (part of the Emily Jordan Foundation).
Unfortunately, there was not enough time to honour the many dozens of local charities, businesses and schools which do great work in and around Kidderminster.
The pace of my activities seems to have moved up a gear in my final months, with one or two events or activities taking place once or twice per day.
I think if I can choose several big highlights, they would be the following –
The officially opening of The Church Venue – a beautiful repurposing of the New Meeting House into a brilliant performance and community space and attending the opening of the new town park, Talbot Park. This is the latest piece of the jigsaw in the renewal of Kidderminster town.
I also enjoyed visiting Mr Tee Records for a fun celebration of their 50th anniversary and opening of their backroom dance record collection and my charity curry night at the Sher-E-Punjab restaurant which raised more than £320 for charity in an enjoyable evening with tasty food.
Totting up income from the several charity events I have hosted or have held in my honour during my term, it looks like around £5,000 will have been raised for chosen charities.
The final event of my term was the mayor making ceremony – the transition from one mayor to another, which took/takes place in the Town Hall last Tuesday (May 12).
The pomp and pageantry is something to experience – a miniature coronation – which I hope many dignitaries and citizens can enjoy with the council.
