School Council Visits the Mayor of Worcester
On Thursday the 23rd of November the Lord Mayor of Worcester, Louis Stephen, gave the Bowbrook House School Student Council members a personal tour of the Guild Hall in Worcester and an insight into the workings of local government.
It was a really enjoyable and informative experience where we were told about the History of the Guild Hall, it’s former use as the Courts of Law and finding out the secrets of the dungeons below.
We were amazed by the beautiful architecture and detail as well as architect, Thomas White’s hidden snail! We were impressed by the beauty of the Lower Hall where leather buckets are still on display today which we were told how in the past, if there was a fire, they would fill the buckets with water, get into a line and pass it down to put out a fire.
The Mayor showed us a hidden door that opened and each past Mayor had their name carved behind it. It was also funny looking at the toilet that was reserved only for Queen Elizabeth the II but she didn’t ever used it!
We also got to go into the several different rooms, one of which was the impressive Assembly Room which was (and still is) used for dancing, performing and other celebrations. It has beautifully decorated ceilings and amazingly sparkly chandeliers.
In the Mayors Civic office and we each got to pick up and have a picture with the ceremonial sword which was very heavy as well as see the Chain of Office which he wore around his neck and has been passed down through many years. While we were in the Mayor’s office he showed us his selection of pears with some being stained glass on the window and others as ornaments in the room. The black pear is the symbol of Worcester and dates back to Roman times. We were also offered some refreshments to enjoy as we asked our questions.
We were especially interested, as a council ourselves, in The Council Chambers which was full of history with former council pictures and names displayed dating back many years.
It was interesting to see where so many important decisions were made which would affect the lives of so many people from Worcester in the same way as our council make decisions for our school.
It was a thoroughly enjoyable experience and I loved learning about the history of the Mayors of Worcester. Overall I loved it and I hope to go again and tell my family all about the history of the Guild Hall.
Report written by Penny Mills. Year 7. School Council Member.
